Holy Bones, Holy Dust: How Relics Shaped the History of Medieval Europe by Charles Freeman Yale University Press Apr 2011 £25 pp306 hb isbn 9780300125719

Becoming Neanderthals: The Earlier British Middle Palaeolithic by Rebecca Scott Oxbow Feb 2011 £50 pp234 hb isbn 9781842179734

The Oxford Handbook of Anglo-Saxon Archaeology ed Helena Hamerow, David A Hinton & Sally Crawford Oxford University Press Mar 2011 £95 pp1078 hb isbn 9780199212149

The Picts by Jill Harden Historic Scotland Dec 2010 £4.95 pp80 pb isbn 9781849170345

Three Ways Wharf, Uxbridge: A Late Glacial & Early Holocene Hunter-Gatherer

Site in the Colne Valley by John SC Lewis & James Rackham MOLA Dec 2010 £25 pp228 hb isbn 9781901992977

Those of us familiar with British medieval churches may be only dimly aware of the importance of relics during the middle ages, as most have been removed during the Reformation or later. On the continent where Catholicism remained strong, however, we can readily see relics at every turn, both still in active use and displayed in museums. The complexity of the containers – reliquaries – reflects their significance. This book provides an engagingly written historical narrative supported by many

By the late middle palaeolithic (some 70–40,000 years ago) neanderthals possessed a suite of survival skills approaching those of Homo sapiens, but what they were doing during the early middle palaeolithic (in Britain, 300–200,000 years ago) is less clear. Scott focuses on the lithic technology of this era, successfully establishing it as critical to understanding how neanderthal adaptations evolved at the edge of their world. This included developing ways to make usable flakes and blades from cores, such as “Levallois”

detailed stories of how relics were relevant to theological, cultural, political and economic changes across medieval Europe. From an archaeological standpoint there is sadly limited analysis of the reliquaries themselves, or the effects of their use on the design and functioning of space within churches, cathedrals and monasteries. It is not a visual feast, though there are some illustrations, but the book might inspire you to search out those relics and experience them for yourself. Harold Mytum techniques which established a certain degree of control over the size and form of desired products. The Thames river terraces provide securely dated core sites with excellent lithic assemblages, some including refitting knapping sequences, and Scott’s exhaustive technological reconstructions bring neanderthal technology to light in an accessible way. Superbly illustrated, it is an excellent introduction to middle palaeolithic technology and neanderthal behaviour, and will be well thumbed by specialists. Paul Pettit

This book is desperately needed – we’ve waited 35 years for a new survey of AngloSaxon archaeology. What we’ve got is fantastic: comprehensive and up to date and, arguably, even good value. The editors and 52 well-chosen contributors have worked hard to help the reader with maps and indexes; the papers are accessible and friendly, yet scholarly and authoritative, and the writers’ passion and excitement shine through. Pithy “overviews”, one for each of the ten sections, highlight current debate and future research.

We’re also told what we don’t know – the mysteries which inspire new work – and unexpected topics are encountered, from literacy to wildness. There are inevitable gaps (I missed a discussion of transport and travel). The photos are horribly dark. Still, the Handbook will remind historians, art historians and literary and placename specialists of the importance of archaeology. Every Anglo-Saxon archaeologist, whether student or seasoned expert, will find it indispensable. Helen Geake

This attractive little book replaces an earlier one with the same title by Anna Ritchie, prompted in part by the recent redisplay of the collection of sculptured stones at St Vigeans: it includes a guide to that collection and the equally important one at Meigle. Sculptured stones constitute a large part of the evidence we have for the Picts, the inhabitants of eastern Scotland ad300–900. Historic Scotland looks after quite a lot of those stones, so the book aims to provide a

This is such a splendidly produced and important volume that one can almost ignore the fact that it has been a quarter of a century since the first excavation at the site. Five scatters of chipped stone artefacts and fragmented animal bones, dating to the late glacial and early Holocene, were meticulously excavated, and the site is of seminal importance to the period. With a few stops and starts, the 25 years involved palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, refitting, microware, studies of the taphonomy and cut context for viewing them. It is well written and has many good photographs. There is even a fair sprinkling of reconstruction drawings, though the use of five different illustrators, each with their own style, produces some discordant moments. Many of the book’s bold statements may well be true, though there is not a lot of evidence to underpin them. But if you like your archaeology largely devoid of uncertainties, this will appeal to you. David Clarke marks of the bones, and spatial analysis. All are superbly reported, leading to interpretations of the social organisation of those who butchered the reindeer and red deer on a low ridge overlooking a river valley some 10,000 years ago. This book is an exemplar of archaeological method, an excellent case study for students; it is a fine testimony to Lewis Binford, because his ethnoarchaeological-derived models are critical to the analysis and interpretation. Steven Mithen

British Archaeology|September October 2011|57