Book Review: Visiting the Past by Gillian Hovell

Visiting the Past: A Guide to Finding and Understanding Britain's Archaeology by Gillian Hovell

This guide invites the curious but inexperienced to get out there and explore the past through archaeology. The idea of time traveling to the past has fascinated us and here is a way to get there, or at least see the fading images and hear the distant echoes made by the people who came before us. Author Gillian Hovell lives in England, so naturally her focus is on archaeology in the United Kingdom, which is surprisingly rich.

The book starts with a quick overview of archaeology and some ways to begin (in addition to field work, there's plenty of research on the internet and information on maps both new and old). Hovell also describes the value of archaeology. It informs us about the past by finding lost information.

The meat of the book goes through the various historic ages in Britain (Stone Age, Bronze, Age, Iron Age, the Romans, the Dark Age, the Medieval Age, Post-Medieval Age, Industrial Age, Modern Age). Each section goes over the history of the age, what living then was like, and the basic archaeological formations still around from that age. She recommends places to see formations, structures, and artifacts (yes, a lot of museums are recommended). The format is a nice way to go through history and to find the best of what's left from a more or less far distant time.

The final part describes what a reader needs to go out and do the job as an amateur. In addition to recommending supplies and resources, the book tells how to document finds and what to do with them. The practical tips are great and are easy to apply to other countries.

Recommended.