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Twenty1stCenturyreviewer TOP 1000 REVIEWER
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books on the subject I have ever owned.
24 October 2018
Impressive. I had high expectations for this book but wow it exceeded them! As soon as you open it you're pulled into it and you can start exploring straight away. Then the more you read it the more you find aspects that weren't apparent on the surface. There are so many aspects to the book that it is like finding little gems the more you read. As well as the obvious, the book is a massive and extensive guide to Megalithic sites themselves, there are articles and features on Photogrammetry, translating Welsh place names, Archaeoastronomy in Western Scotland, carved stone balls, chalk artefacts and many more such as features on Stonehenge and Avebury. Throughout the book you will find short articles on specific places, like 'Excavations at the Ness of Brodgar', 'An Early Neolithic House at Cata Sand' and 'Dowsing at Cairn Holy', and comment boxes from people who have visited places or know something interesting about the sites. All the articles and features are written by experts and their experience really shows through in the quality of the book.
It is great to have so many photos (all colour), even of the lesser known, smaller or more remote sites. They compliment the text and don't just fill pages. The layout means the photos are appropriately sized to give you a good view without distracting from the text, actually the layout of the book is one of its defining stand out qualities. It holds so much more than the pages would seem to allow.
The attention to detail is stunning. You get maps of regions and islands and then some detailed layouts of particular sites, you get GPS coordinates (useful for those car trips) and map references, basically all you need to actually get to even the most remote places. There is also information about nearby places of interest and the closest village or town. The way it is arranged and written makes it really easy to see how these sites are situated across the regions. So much is included, but because of the way it is organised you can see an overall structure that keeps everything focused and connected to where you are interested in at any moment. You get the practical essential practical stuff you need and then all the other stuff you want to savour in a seamless way. It is also that aspect of the book that makes it equally great for planning those long awaited road trips and then sitting cosied up on your sofa with a coffee and some 'me time'.
I really like the top lists (they will inspire you to start thinking of your own!). There are the ones you might expect, like the 'Top 10 Stone Circles in England' and 'Top 15 Timber and Earthen sites in England' and then some more unusual ones like 'Top 10 pieces of Music inspired by Prehistory', 'Top 10 Urban Prehistory sites', 'Top 10 sites of Prehistoric Industry' and the 'Top 10 sites for getting away from it all in the UK'. I can already see how these lists will give plenty to debate over on trips with friends.
There is a great introductory chapter, fully referenced with further reading. At the back there is a 'further reading and resources' section, which is extensive. You get book lists for relevant Archaeology, and an excellent list for Stonehenge along with a list of regional guides. The 'Archaeoastronomy and other Perspectives' list gives you plenty to get into and builds on the articles and features in the book. As well as these you get groups, magazines and societies to check out and even phone and tablet apps. There are suggested CD ROMs, free ebooks and downloads, blogs, websites and online site databases that provide a wealth of information and enjoyment.
The page edges are coloured coded by region with counties named on one side of the page and the region on the other, which is great for finding your way around the book. The layout of articles, boxes, use of colour and arrangement make it a pleasure to use and the eight page index is very useful and relevant. the balance of quality of content with a well thought out layout and arrangement is the real genius of the guide and what makes it stand out from other books.
I can see owning two copies, one for keeping in the car and one to keep at home. It would also make an amazing gift for anyone interested in the subject, something they will treasure and refer to often.
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