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The Anglo-Saxon World by
The Anglo-Saxon period, stretching from the fifth to the late eleventh century, begins with the Roman retreat from the Western world and ends with the Norman takeover of England. Between these epochal events, many of the contours and patterns of English life that would endure for the next millennium were shaped. In this authoritative work, N. J. Higham and M. J. Ryan reexamine Anglo-Saxon England in the light of new research in disciplines as wide ranging as historical genetics, paleobotany, archaeology, literary studies, art history, and numismatics. The result is the definitive introduction to the Anglo-Saxon world, enhanced with a rich array of photographs, maps, genealogies, and other illustrations. The Anglo-Saxon period witnessed the birth of the English people, the establishment of Christianity, and the development of the English language. With an extraordinary cast of characters (Alfred the Great, the Venerable Bede, King Cnut), a long list of artistic and cultural achievements (Beowulf, the Sutton Hoo ship-burial finds, the Bayeux Tapestry), and multiple dramatic events (the Viking invasions, the Battle of Hastings), the Anglo-Saxon era lays legitimate claim to having been one of the most important in Western history.
Heritage by
Throughout the world, heritage is now a major concern. It is a method by which to establish identities and attract visitors. Natural and cultural heritage is protected, conserved, managed and interpreted, by families, by cities, by nation states and at international level.
The Pursuit of Local History by
In this work readers can discover the role local historians play, find out what the experts see as the values of the local history while exploring their theories, and see how local history has been practised by those who have dedicated their lives to it.
Sutton Hoo through the rear view mirror 1937-1942 by 
Debating the Archaeological Heritage by
Throughout the world, competing interest groups lay claim to the material remains of the past. Archaeologists, developers, indigenous 'first peoples', looters, museum curators, national government officals, New Age worshippers, private collectors, tourists - all want their share. This introduction to contemporary debates surrounding their rival claims deals with defining, owning, protecting, managing, interpreting, and experiencing the archaeological heritage. Fundamental questions are considered: What is 'archaeological heritage'? Who should own and control the material culture of the past? How should these remains be protected? How should the archaeological heritage be presented to the public? Robin Skeates calls for greater communication and co-operation between archaeologists and other interest groups, urging archaeologists to increase the involvement of local people in the culturally valuable and vulnerable material remains of their past, and in archaeological research that attempts to be objective.
The Countryside of East Anglia by
The countryside we enjoy today has a very long history, but many of its key features were created in the relatively recent past - as this book shows. It investigates how the landscape of a particular area of England, East Anglia, developed in the period of the so-called great depression, beginning in 1870, and the phase of wartime intensification which succeeded it after 1930. It considers how fields, farms and villages developed in this period of dramatic agricultural change; examines the fate of country houses, gardens, and landed estates; and looks in some detail at the character of habitat change - at the development of hedges, woods, wetlands and heaths. It also considers how new kinds of landscape, ranging from vast conifer plantations to holiday resorts, came into existence. The period of the 'great depression' was not simply one of stasis and decay. It was instead a time in which there were fundamental changes in the rural environment, changes which were not always beneficial to wildlife and biodiversity. This book will be essential reading for all those interested in the history of the countryside (in East Anglia and beyond), landscape history, agricultural history, and historical ecology.
Bloody Marsh by
`A story of rising poverty, enclosure, accusations of rape, and the brutal confrontation of the landed and the dispossessed'. What began as a dispute over grazing rights in the village of Walberswick in Suffolk in April 1644, led to the death of a man and the subsequent hanging of three others. The events of this month are pieced together through primary source material and the events are used as a medium for discussing life in the seventeenth century community. A great story and a great book.
Museums, Ethics and Cultural Heritage by
This volume provides an unparalleled exploration of ethics and museum practice, considering the controversies and debates which surround key issues such as provenance, ownership, cultural identity, environmental sustainability and social engagement. Using a variety of case studies which reflect the internal realities and daily activities of museums as they address these issues, from exhibition content and museum research to education, accountability and new technologies, Museums, Ethics and Cultural Heritage enables a greater understanding of the role of museums as complex and multifaceted institutions of cultural production, identity-formation and heritage preservation. Benefitting from ICOM¿s unique position in the museum world, this collection brings a global range of academics and professionals together to examine museums ethics from multiple perspectives. Providing a more complete picture of the diverse activities now carried out by museums, Museums, Ethics and Cultural Heritage will appeal to practitioners, academics and students alike.
History and Heritage by
Just what is it that we want from the past? History offers us true stories about the past; heritage sells or provides us with the past we appear to desire. The dividing line between history and heritage is, however, far from clear. This collection of papers addresses the division between history and heritage by looking at the ways in which we make use of the past, the way we consume our yesterdays. Looking at a wide variety of fields, including architectural history, museums, films, novels and politics, the authors examine the ways in which the past is invoked in contemporary culture, and question the politics of drawing upon 'history' in present-day practices. In topics ranging from Braveheart to Princess Diana, the Piltdown Man to the National History Curriculum, war memorials to stately homes, "History and Heritage" explores the presence of the past in our lives, and asks, how, and to what end, are we using the idea of the past. Who is consuming the past and why?
