Further reading

Deserted villages

The Lost Villages of England by Maurice Beresford (Sutton Publishing, 1998)
Still the 'classic' on deserted villages in England, by one of the leading figures in the post-second world war research into DMVs (deserted medieval villages).

The Making of the English Landscape by William Hoskins (Hodder & Stoughton, 1988)
Another classic', by the second professor who led the postwar research into DMVs.

Deserted Villages by T Rowley and J Wood (Shire, 1995) paperback £4.99
Explains why sites have been deserted, what a site might look like today and procedures for recording them. Also lists some good examples of sites to visit.

The English Heritage Book of Wharram Percy, Deserted Medieval Village by M Beresford and J G Hurst (Batsford/English Heritage, 1990)
Overview of research into Britain's most-studied DMV, Wharram Percy in Yorkshire.

Villages in the Landscape by Trevor Rowley (Orion, 1994) paperback £6.99
Examines the role of villages in England from prehistory to the present day. Includes tips for finding out more about past villages and helpful guidelines for practical fieldwork.

Everyday Life in Medieval England by Christopher Dyer (Hambledon, 1994) hardback £35
The villages may have become deserted and buried, but this book brings their inhabitants back to life. Topics range from freshwater fishing to rural violence, and the author examines deep social processes as well as everyday living.

Human bones

The Archaeology of Human Bones by Simon Mays (Routledge, 1998) paperback £26.99
This book provides a detailed account of the forensic analysis of human skeletal remains and its application in tackling major historical and archaeological issues. The book starts with an introduction to the anatomy, structure and development of bones and teeth and discusses what can be learned about ancient burial rituals from human remains. Subsequent chapters focus on the demographic analysis of ancient populations, normal skeletal variation, ancient disease and injury, the chemical analysis of bone, the study of DNA, and the study of cremated remains. Examples are taken from archaeological studies around the world.

Written in Bones: How human remains unlock the secrets of the dead edited by Paul Bahn (David & Charles, 2003)
Well-illustrated book drawing on numerous case studies dating from a few hundred to 1.5 million years ago. Subjects covered include natural and deliberate deaths, burials, mummies and mummification. Each case study illuminates the methods by which the secrets of the dead have been revealed by forensic science.

Human Bones in Archaeology by Ann Stirland (Shire Archaeology, 1999) paperback £5.99
Basic (64-page) introduction to the subject from the popular Shire Archaeology series.

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