Interpreting the Landscape: Landscape Archaeology and Local History

by Mick Aston

Most places in Britain have had a local history written about them. Up until this century these histories have addressed more parochial issues, such as the life of the manor, rather than explaining the features and changes in the landscape in a factual manner. Much of what is visible today in Britain's landscape is the result of a chain of social and natural processes, and can be interpreted through fieldwork as well as from old maps and documents.
Michael Aston uses a wide range of source material to study the complex and dynamic history of the countryside, illustrating his points with aerial photographs, maps, plans and charts. He shows how to understand the surviving remains as well as offering his own explanations for how our landscape has evolved.

Genres: History, Archaeology, Nonfiction

168 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1985

About the author

Michael Aston was an English archaeologist whose work helped establish landscape archaeology as an important field of study in Britain. He specialized in Early Medieval archaeology and became known for examining how settlements and other archaeological features developed within their wider landscapes. He studied geography with archaeology as a subsidiary subject at the University of Birmingham, while gaining practical experience through archaeological excavations. In 1970, he began working as a field officer for the Oxford City and County Museum, where he contributed to the sites and monuments record and taught extramural archaeology classes. He also presented a radio series on archaeology for Radio Oxford, beginning a lifelong commitment to making the subject accessible beyond universities. In 1974, Aston became the first County Archaeologist for Somerset. There he established a new archaeological site record, supervised excavations connected with the construction of the M5 motorway, and developed a strong interest in aerial archaeology. Together with Trevor Rowley, he helped introduce the term "landscape archaeology" through Landscape Archaeology (1974). The Landscape of Towns (1976), co-written with James Bond, extended this approach to urban environments. Aston was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in recognition of his contribution to archaeology. He later taught at the University of Oxford and the University of Bristol, organizing courses that introduced thousands of people to archaeology. He also led archaeological study tours in Greece and published Interpreting the Landscape (1985). Aston became widely known through his collaboration with television producer Tim Taylor. Their first project was Time Signs, followed by Time Team, which premiered on Channel 4 in 1994. Aston selected archaeological sites for excavation and assembled specialist teams for the program, while serving as its principal archaeological adviser. His distinctive appearance and approachable manner made him one of the most recognizable archaeologists on British television. He viewed Time Team as an extension of his adult education work, allowing him to bring archaeology to a much larger audience. In 1996, Aston became Professor of Landscape Archaeology at the University of Bristol. He also led a ten-year investigation of the medieval manor at Shapwick in Somerset, a project that resulted in The Shapwick Project, Somerset: A Rural Landscape Explored (2007), co-written with Chris Gerrard, followed by Interpreting the English Village (2013). His books for general readers included Mick's Archaeology and Archaeology is Rubbish: A Beginner's Guide, co-written with Tony Robinson. He retired from the University of Bristol in 2004 and became Professor Emeritus, while continuing his archaeological work through writing and television. From 2006, he contributed a regular column, "Mick's Travels", to British Archaeology magazine. Aston left Time Team in 2012 after objecting to changes that he believed reduced its archaeological content. He received a lifetime achievement award at the British Archaeological Awards in recognition of his contribution to public archaeology. His academic work, teaching, books, and television appearances helped make archaeology more accessible to a broad British audience. Colleagues regarded his ability to communicate complex archaeological ideas in an engaging way as a significant part of his contribution to the discipline.

Reviews

[Carole-Ann]

Read this as part of my Landscape Archaeology degree

[Forest]

I read this because it was recommended for understanding landscape archaeology. I was concerned it wouldn't be very useful because of how focused it is on England, but it is actually still very interesting for thinking about the pre-colonial Native landscape in North America, it just takes more work.

[Johanne]

useful easy to get to grips with, not the last word on the subject by any means but a reasonable intro

[Sarah G]

What an interesting book. It's not a book to choose if you want a quick read on the subject but it has given me a new perspective on the landscape and its evolution.

[Jen]

DA90 .A75 1985, SSAH