Abandoned Landscapes: Archaeological Journeys - Selected Further Reading
Submitted by M_M_Robinson on Thursday, 29 June 2006 Page Views: 5498
Multi-periodCountry: Wales
The Big Picture
Facing the Ocean (Cunliffe 2001) is a magisterial overview of the ‘Atlantic Province.‘, providing essential context to the pre-modern archaeology of Wales.
Click more for an extensive list.
Archaeological Guides
North Wales is well-served by two excellent archaeological guides - Lynch 1995 and Burnham 1995. Both of these contain a number of very good walking itineraries for important groupings e.g. the Berwyn, Druid's Circle sanctuary, Moel Goedog/Bryn Cader Faner trackway and World's End. Although some of the interpretation would now be considered outdated, the earlier guides by Watson (1965) and Houlder (1974) are still well worth consulting. Unfortunately none of these guides deal with the upland remains of the last few hundred years such as the sheepfolds and homesteads. In contrast, Robert Silvester’s short illustrated chapter on common field monuments includes remains of all periods along with references to specific sites (in Browne and Hughes 2003 125-33). Brow’s recent book (2004) deals with the Clwydian range and has excellent photos by Mick Sharp and Jean Williamson. Bick 2004 should also be noted in this context as the ancient holloways he describes on the Welsh border look well worth visiting although I’ve not done so myself.
Archaeological Synthesis
The current standard works of synthesis are Lynch et al 2000 and Arnold and Davies 2000. These contain very comprehensive bibliographies. Manley et al 1991 is also very useful for Clwyd. Owen (1989) has chapters on geography, environment and history as well archaeology. Although it covers the whole of Wales, the northern region is well represented.
Surveys and Description
The various volumes by the RCHMW (1956, 1960, 1964) and the volume by Bowen and Gresham (1967) remain superb and scholarly sources despite their age, and the illustrations are unmatched. The ‘Buildings of Wales’ volumes (Hubbard 1986) are indispensable guide to the buildings but also include many prehistoric sites. Crew and Musson 1996 is both inspiring and informative in its selection of aerial photos of upland sites in the region, as is ‘The Archaeology of the Welsh Uplands' (Browne and Hughes 2003). The Sites and Monuments Records for Gwynedd and for Clwyd Powys are a tremendous resource and can be accessed on line although the sheer number of sites now recorded can be overwhelming.
General Books
There are many excellent general books concerning the uplands. Williams (2000) is a readable short introduction to Snowdonia with wonderful photos and is especially good on the industrial archaeology. Millward and Robinson 1978 present a good overview of the North Wales landscape, including the natural landscape. However, be prepared for some now dated perceptions of landscape value as when they discuss the glorious empty moorland of the Migneint: 'with adequate drainage the Migneint could benefit from forestry, a change which would meet with universal approval.' (53).
Walking Guides
There is so much choice here but Poucher 1962 is a good example of the classic hill walking guide. Publications with an historical/archaeological bent include Dutton 1997 which describes several very enjoyable and instructive low-level walks exploring old routeways and roads, mainly in NE Wales. Moulam 1975 is an exceptionally interesting if short guidebook to the Carneddau, written by a well-known rock climber. Redfern 1993 includes a first hand account of hill farming in the hills above Barmouth as well as much historical information. Godwin and Toulson 1977 contains route guides to the drovers roads across the hills of North Wales and has very evocative photos. Cantrell and Rylance 1992 describe walks on and around the route of the Roman road Sarn Helen, whilst Waddilove 1999 has much of interest for the Roman road enthusiast.
Antiquarian, Topographic and Landscape Writers
The sources I've found most informative are Pennant 1883, Fenton, whose journals written in the early 19th century remained unpublished until 1917 (and judged by his editors as 'the most literary of all the Welsh 'Tourists,' especially of those that went before him.'). Borrow 1920 is simply unique (and it is worth looking at Roberts 1997 for a modern commentary on Borrow and his journey's). My choice for the best recent book in this genre is Perrin 1997 (and see also Perrin 2001).
See "here for contents page, or here for the bibliography.
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