Great Excavations: Shaping the Archaeological Profession

As archaeologists, our engagement with our subject is shaped by the excavations we have worked on, and the other archaeologists we have encountered along the way. But the world of archaeology has changed dramatically over the past twenty-five years, not least in becoming a profession. Some argue that the fun has gone out of archaeology, and that the 'great excavations' of the past no longer exist for us to participate in and for future generations of budding archaeologists to look forward to. This collection of essays, deriving from a session at the Institute for Archaeologists annual conference in 2007, touches on that debate. Yet its main focus is on documenting great excavations of the past, assessing what made them great and why they persist in the memory and folklore of archaeologists today. It is, as one of the authors states, an archaeography. It is also a social history of our profession and one that should stir memories and dispel (or corroborate) some urban myths that younger archaeologists may be aware of. An impressive list of authors and projects make this a significant contribution to the history and development of British archaeology over the course of the twentieth century. Fifteen chapters describe specific projects, from Danebury to the Brieddin, from Howe to West Heslerton; six further chapters provide a thematic overview, covering early excavations, the IfA, English Heritage and the commercial sector. Lavishly illustrated, this is a book that will provoke memories and stir debate.