An interesting look at burials as a source of information about people who lived in pre historic Britain. Also a review of changing archaeological techniques over the centuries. A bit wordy and repetivite at times but with nice, relaxed diversions and meanders along the way. My only complaint? Ms Roberts warns against imposing our own cultural values on societies from long ago in our interpretation of how they lived. And then proceeds to put modern day cultural values to work in her interpretations. ( )

https://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2022/11/2022148-ancestors-prehistory-of-britain.h... ( )

A good introduction to a selection of recent excavations (or reconsiderations) of prehistoric sites in Britain from before the most recent Ice Age to late Iron Age and discussion of the genomic technique being used (or which will be used) to identify whether changes in culture (neolithic to copper age etc) were accompanied by influxes of settlers from the continent.
As well as a detailed consideration of the specific excavations chosen, Alice Roberts digresses occasionally with “quite interesting” facts and also onto contemporary issues (immigration, gender identity, religion and the Covid-19 pandemic), before bringing matters back to the archaeology. This can appear to be trying to bring extraneous issues to the reader’s attention, but Roberts does usually convincingly show how these current issues relate to the past, either directly or from our interpretation of the past. I did find it a bit annoying though, and it will date the book.
There is also a long second chapter about the “Red Lady” excavated at Paviland Cave, which I had read about at least twice before, but it is the major early burial, so Roberts probably had no choice but to discuss this burial.
I also formed the impression that this was not the polished book that Roberts might have hoped to complete, as some of the genome research has been delayed by prioritising Covid-19 work, and reports for other excavations have not yet been completed. However, this does not detract from the book, and makes one appreciate all the more that archaeology is a developing subject and not static.
This is my first book by Roberts, and I had not realised that she was a TV personality (although I had seen her in BBC programmes on the Celts and Stonehenge), so she does play to this expectation in her writing some of the time. This did work for me, as it made the book more personal and engaging, especially her trips to Salisbury Museum and discussion of Lane Fox Pitt Rivers (there is material for another book there!).
Overall, I enjoyed this book for the details of new excavations and the Salisbury Museum segments. I wouldn’t recommend it for your first British archaeology book (I read Britain Begins by Barry Cunliffe about five years ago and would recommend that), but it is good general book to read if you want to explore further. ( )