| ISSN 1357-4442 | Editor: Simon Denison |
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What was the most important event or development in British archaeology this century? Interviews by Simon Denison
Aubrey Burl
Prehistorian
* `Antiquity', in its early days
Why? It covered everything and was so
readable. It was like a magazine.
David Miles
Chief Archaeologist, English Heritage
* PPG16
Why? Because it fundamentally changed
the position of archaeology in British society. It also led to the appreciation that the
whole landscape is full of archaeology.
Having said that, the most interesting event
was Sutton Hoo.
Mark Redknap
Medievalist, National Museum of Wales
* Radiocarbon dating
Why? It provides an independent eye on
the past. Without it, it would be far harder
to date things as we do today.
Warwick Rodwell
Church archaeologist
* Dendrochronology
Why? It's far more important
than radiocarbon because it's
so precise. It gives you 6,500
years of continuous chronology, and benefits everyone
from early prehistorians to
people working on 18th century houses.
Peter Fowler
Writer and former Prof at Newcastle University
* Transformation of archaeology
from a dilettante plaything of the
elite to a publicly-orientated and
popular interest
Why? I wouldn't be where I
am today if that hadn't happened.
George Lambrick
CBA Director
* New appreciation of the historic
environment as a whole
Why? It made us realise that
it's not just individual sites and
monuments that are of historic interest in the landscape.
David Longley
Director, Gwynedd Archaeological Trust
* Growth of public awareness of the historic environment
Why? Archaeology now
has its rightful place as an
environmental issue -
alongside furry creatures.
Francis Pryor
CBA President, and Director of Flag Fen
* PPG16
Why? Developers now
spend £50 million a year
on archaeology in Britain.
Before PPG16 came
along, English Heritage's
budget for archaeology (in
England) was zilch.
Paul Stamper
Ancient Monuments
Inspector, English Heritage
* Sutton Hoo
Why? It revealed the sheer wealth of
Anglo-Saxon society. It connected with
the world of heroic kingship we knew
from Beowulf, and showed it was a real
world.
Richard Brewer
Keeper of Archaeology, National
Museum of Wales
* Vindolanda writing tablets
Why? Because they bring us messages from
the past. Anything found with writing on
it is wonderful.
Gordon Maxwell
Former head of archaeology, Scottish
Royal Commission
* Aerial photography of JKS St Joseph
Why? His pioneering work revolutionised
the quantity of archaeological data, and
inspired those with eyes to see and brains
to think.
David Baker
Consultant and former
county archaeologist
* Realisation in a few places that
archaeology has got something to do
with the local community
(Er, did you say `a few places'?
- ed.) Yes, I chose my words
very carefully.
Miranda Aldhouse-Green
Prehistorian, University of
Wales, Newport
* Lindow Man
Why? He's the best possible candidate for
human sacrifice in Britain.
Mick Sharp
Photographer
* Discovery of astronomical alignments at prehistoric
monuments
Why? People used to think Neolithic and
Bronze Age people were just a superior
form of cavemen. We now know they
were highly skilled.
Peter Carrington
Senior Archaeologist, Chester
Archaeology
* Sutton Hoo
Why? It was so spectacular
and brought to life something previously only known
in the realm of saga.
John Barrett
Philosopher of archaeology,
Sheffield University
* Handing back the Elgin Marbles to Greece
(Huh? That hasn't taken
place - ed.) I know. It's my
wished-for event. It would
recognise at last that Britain
doesn't have a cultural hegemony over the rest of the
world.
Charlotte Roberts
Palaeopathologist,
Bradford University
* Biomolecular techniques like DNA analysis
Why? Health is of such major importance
in all societies, past and present. You can't
get evidence for most diseases from skeletons alone.
Hedley Swain
Head of Early Department, Museum of London
* `Time Team'
Why? Because Time Team is the thing
that's done best what archaeology is supposed to do - engage with ordinary
people.
Note: British Archaeology contacted as many people at random as it took to fill this page. No answers were excluded.
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