Cornwall in Prehistory by Toni-Maree Rowe Cornwall

Submitted by dianacoles on Friday, 07 October 2005 Page Views: 6483

Country: England County: Cornwall
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This book provides an introduction to Cornish Prehistory, from the Palaeolithic through to the end of the Iron Age, set in the wider context of British and European developments. The author looks at archaeological method and provides a list of sites that may be of interest to the student beginning Cornish prehistoric studies. The idea is well conceived, providing a broad brush stroke overview of human activity in Cornwall that fills the gap between the specialist publications such as detailed site reports, and the popularist texts which provide little in the way of detail or evidence. However, its execution leaves much to be desired.

Firstly it suffers badly from careless editing. Immediately apparent is the miscaptioning of many of the illustrations. This lack of editorial input is also evident in the text where the reader comes across such unfortunate sentences as ‘A third type of monument that may come under this category of burial is that of the long mound, depending on its construction material.’ This writer would also prefer to read a rather more uniformly formal prose style. The blend of academic language in some places and the almost journalistic style of other parts - ‘…we are not a lot different from our ancestors….it’s just the answers that are different’ - sit together rather uncomfortably.

Furthermore, the author discusses those areas which are currently matters of great debate in prehistoric studies – the process of developing agriculture, the ritual significance of megalithic monuments and so on, but too often complex arguments are given a one sided and superficial treatment which does them and the author no favours. One instance of many may be quoted. In advancing the arguments for a non sedentary Neolithic, with an economy largely similar to that of the preceding period she asserts that ‘the food eaten on a daily basis would have been unchanged from the previous period except on ceremonial occasions.’ She does not cite the opposing argument arising from the stable isotope analysis work of Rick Schulting et al which indicates how radically the diet does in fact appear to have changed from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic period.

Cornwall in Prehistory fails to provide any original perspective of the nature of prehistoric developments within the southwest peninsula. It is, nonetheless, an easy read which does provide an informative introductory overview of Cornish prehistoric studies. Its best audience may be the visitor to Cornish sites seeking an understanding of the wide diversity of monuments to be found there. As such, despite its flaws, it will be a worthwhile read for the beginner.

Review by Diana Coles

Tempus £16.99. (£14.44 direct from Tempus online)

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Contributor Bio for dianacoles: Based in london, contributing since 2005. Favourite site: cave cairn. Occupation: student.

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