This is a short list of recommended books for people wanting an introduction to archaeology or to find out more. Books by Time Team members can be found here, and recommended further reading to accompany particular programmes can be found on the web pages for each programme.

General

Archaeology: Theories, methods and practice by Colin Renfrew and Paul Bahn (Thames and Hudson, 2004) paperback £17.46 Used as a textbook by hundreds of archaeology courses worldwide, this is the perfect companion to any serious study of the subject. Get this book from Amazon.

Edward III's Roundtable at Windsor by Juian Munby, Richard Barber and Richard Brown (The Boydell Press, 2007) The image of King Arthur's Round Table is well-known. Now a dramatic archaeological find at Windsor castle sheds new light on the idea of a round table as a gathering. The discovery of the foundation trench of a great building two hundred feet in diameter in the Upper Ward of Windsor castle, allows the reconstruction of that building's appearance and raises the question of its purpose. Get this book from Amazon.

Archaeology: An introduction by Kevin Greene (Routledge, 4th edition 2002, paperback) £18.99 An accessible overview, usefully illustrated, of all the main issues in archaeology: methods of discovery, fieldwork and recording, excavation, dating and technology. Get this book from Amazon.

The Archaeology of Britain edited by John Hunter and Ian Ralston (Routledge, 1998, paperback) £20.99 An introduction which covers a huge span of time in one volume. This is an important book for anyone interested in British archaeology. Get this book from Amazon.

The Handbook of British Archaeology by L and R Adkins (Constable, 1998, paperback) £10.49 Diatom? Quern? Clactonian? These are all explained in this handbook, which has a chapter on techniques as well as ones on all periods up to the Middle Ages. Although it has not been updated since 1998, it is still an essential reference work. Get this book from Amazon.

Interpreting the Landscape by Mick Aston (Routledge, new edition 1997, paperback) £24.99 An enthusiastic description of how the landscape around us has been created, and how basic archaeological fieldwork combined with local history studies can help us to appreciate our surroundings. Get this book from Amazon.

Techniques of Archaeological Investigation by Philip Barker (Routledge, new edition 1993, paperback) £25.99 The standard work on the techniques of excavation, now updated and expanded to cover the very latest developments. Get this book from Amazon.

Making Faces by John Prag and Richard Neave (British Museum Press, 1999) £6.99 See how forensic archaeology reveals the face of the past. A compelling read outlining the pioneering work in facial reconstruction. Get this book from Amazon.

The Archaeology of Buildings by Richard K Morriss (Tempus, 2000) £11.19 A highly useful introduction to building materials and construction techniques. Find out about the techniques used in standing buildings recording and discover how to recognise different phases of construction in ancient buildings. Get this book from Amazon.

Virtual Archaeology by Colin Renfrew (Thames and Hudson, 1996) £10.37 Discover the world of computer reconstruction and 3D modelling. A range of examples are featured that allow the reader to see some ancient civilisations brought to life. Get this book from Amazon.

Written in bones: how human remains unlock the secrets of the dead by Paul Bahn (David and Charles, 2002) paperback £10.49
In 36 gripping case studies from around the world, an international team of experts shows how the careful study of bones can reveal a compelling picture of the lives, cultures and beliefs of ancient societies.
Get this book from Amazon.

Archaeological finds: a guide to identification by Norena Shopland (Tempus, 2005) paperback £12.59 Up-to-date handbook for anyone interested in archaeology and keen to learn more about identifying the artefacts they discover. Get this book from Amazon.

Britain BC: Life in Britain and Ireland before the Romans by Francis Pryor (Perennial, 2004) paperback £6.99 An authoritative and radical rethinking of the whole of British history before the coming of the Romans, based on remarkable new archaeological finds made over the past 30 years. Get this book from Amazon.

Britain AD: A quest for Arthur, England and the Anglo-Saxons by Francis Pryor (Harper Collins, 2004) hardback £14 In this book, which accompanies and expands on his Channel 4 television series, Francis Pryor retells the story of King Arthur, legendary king of the Britons, tracing it back to its Bronze Age origins and arguing that the legend's survival mirrors a flourishing, indigenous culture that endured through the Roman occupation of Britain and the subsequent invasions of the so-called Dark Ages. Get this book from Amazon.

British prehistoric pottery by Alex Gibson (Tempus, 2002) paperback £12.59 It can be precisely dated, can tell us about the diet, economy and even ritual acts of prehistoric people, and is often richly decorated. As this study and guide to identification shows, pottery can tell us more about prehistoric society than any other artefact. Get this book from Amazon.

Prehistoric Ritual and Religion edited by Alex Gibson and Derek Simpson (Sutton, 1998) £29.70 By comparing many different monuments in Britain, Ireland and on the continent this book sheds new light on many of the questions about our past. Some new topics are also covered including the use of colour in prehistory. Get this book from Amazon.

The Nature and Subsequent Uses of Flint: The basics of lithic technology by John W Lord (John Lord, 1993) £4.95
A straightforward and practical introduction to ancient and modern flint working. This book assumes no prior knowledge of the subject and gives an interesting insight to tool production.
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Prehistoric Britain by Timothy Darvill (Routledge, 1996) £22.99 Still the mainstay of published British prehistory, this book covers our past from hunter-gatherers to the Romans. All of the 'classic sites' that have shaped our current theories are explained in detail. Get this book from Amazon.

British Barrows by Ann Woodward (Tempus, 2000) £19.99 An investigation into the various forms of prehistoric burial mounds and their relevance to the wider landscape. This book will appeal to both the enthusiast and the professional academic. Get this book from Amazon.

The Atlantic Celts: Ancient people or modern invention by Simon James (British Museum Press, 1999) £8 Are the Celts just a romantic fantasy? This book investigates the migration theories and current discussion about these Iron-Age people. Get this book from Amazon.

Ancient Britain by James Dyer (Routledge, 1997) £15.39 Full of illustrations, this book brings British prehistory to life. With a background in teaching, James Dyer's descriptions and explanations are very clear and easy to read. Get this book from Amazon.

Roman

Housesteads by James Crow (Batsford, 2004) £12.59 Housesteads is the best-known fort on Hadrian's Wall. James Crow looks at life in this important Roman fort and recollects his own experience as an excavator at Housesteads. Get this book from Amazon.

Roman Britain by John Wacher (Sutton, 2001) £9.09 Often used as the ideal introduction to study of this period, this book takes into account life before the Romans arrived and then the massive changes imposed on the native people of Britain following the Roman invasion. Wacher also writes on the withdrawal of the Romans and presents a picture of Britain after the empire. Get this book from Amazon.

The Landscape of Roman Britain by Ken and Petra Dark (Sutton, 1998) £29.03 This book takes a wider view of Roman Britain within the landscape of the time. Why are sites where they are? And how have the Romans altered the landscape? These questions and more are answered in this useful volume. Get this book from Amazon.

The Buildings of Roman Britain by Guy de la Bédoyère (Tempus, 2001) £12.59 The remains of Roman buildings bear witness to one of the greatest periods of architecture in the Western world. This book looks into the details of construction, style and location. Get this book from Amazon.

Conquest: The Roman Invasion of Britain by John Peddie (Sutton, 2005) £9.09 The story of the Claudian conquest of Britain. Military and logistical problems are explained together with a good interpretation of the impact of the invasion on the native peoples. Get this book from Amazon.

Roman Britain by Martin Millett (Batsford, 2005) £10.49
Millett looks at the occupation of Britain by the Romans over a time span of four centuries. Recent excavation and fieldwork are also featured bringing to life the social and economic framework of the time.
Get this book from Amazon.

The Later Roman Empire by Richard Reece (Tempus, 1999) £13.99 An analysis of the changes which occurred between 150 AD and 600, and led into the medieval world. Get this book from Amazon.

Medieval

Life in a Medieval Castle by Tony McAleavy (Enchanted Lion Books, 2003) £11.19 From 1066 to their decline in the late Middle Ages, castles were instruments of repression and cruelty as well as luxurious houses for the nobility. Using colourful diagrams and illustrations the author recreates the life at one of these now desolate ruins. Get this book from Amazon.

Monasteries in the Landscape by Mick Aston (Tempus, 2000) £12.59 Mick explains how and why monasticism developed in Britain and why monasteries were placed where they were. This book also takes a look outside the monastery at the agricultural, industrial and commercial activities of monks and friars. Get this book from Amazon.

Medieval Warfare: A history by Maurice Keen (Oxford, 2001) £20.00 This volume uncovers evidence from the time of the Vikings and Charlemagne to the Crusades and the victory of the Tudors at Bosworth Field. Twelve experts on the subject create a vivid picture of what life was like for a medieval warrior. Get this book from Amazon.

Medicine and Society in Later Medieval England by Carole Rawcliffe (Sandpiper, 1999) £8.16 What measures were taken to cure the sick? Who took charge of the healing? Was medical treatment available to everyone? The volume covers all of these questions and more. Get this book from Amazon.

Churches in the Landscape by Richard Morris (Orion, 1989) £155.21
The parish churches of England form an amazing collection of historical buildings. This book looks at styles, shapes and sizes as well as the concept of parishes and the church in the wider context of the landscape.
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Who's Who in Roman Britain and Anglo-Saxon England by Richard Fletcher (Stackpole, 2002) £14.45 A very useful guide to many of the known names and characters in these periods. Over 140 biographies convey more than just the bare facts of the subjects' lives. Get this book from Amazon.

The Vikings by James Graham-Campbell and Dafydd Kidd (British Museum Press, 1980) £3.95
A fantastic and well-illustrated volume, The Vikings looks at these fascinating people. The Vikings were administrators as well as pirates, merchants as well as robbers, and creators as well as destroyers.
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The Normans by Trevor Rowley (Tempus, 2004) £9.09 The Normans were a relatively short-lived cultural and political phenomenon, but their impact on Britain was far reaching. This book investigates who the Normans were and how they developed to meet the challenges of the time. Get this book from Amazon.

Industrial

Industrial England by Michael Stratton and Barrie Trinder (Batsford, 1997) £6.99 Glassworks, ironworks, coal mines, brickworks, car production plants, tin mines and cotton plants are all investigated here. From the birth of industry at Ironbridge in Shropshire to the Art Deco Hoover factory in West London. Get this book from Amazon.

Battles over Britain: The archaeology of air war by Guy de la Bédoyère (Tempus, 2000) £10.49 Excavations of a Spitfire, Hurricane and Messerschmitt are described in this interesting volume together with airfields, civil defence and the effects of bombing. Find out how archaeology is helping piece together the picture of our recent past. Get this book from Amazon.

The Making of the Industrial Landscape by Barrie Trinder (Phoenix, 1997) £14.99 This book traces the emergence and development of the industries and industrial landscapes of England and Wales from around 1700 until the early twentieth century. Get this book from Amazon.

The Archaeology of Railways by Richard Morriss (Tempus, 2003) £11.19 Britain's railways enabled cheap travel across the country during the 19th century and opened up new possibilities for all classes. Morris asks us to look at the archaeology of railways and see them as important structures, feats of engineering and architecture, that deserve recognition before they disappear. Get this book from Amazon.

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