Europe before History (New Studies in Archaeology)

Rating:
Summary: Tough Going
Review: I was attracted to this book because I am an armchair archaeology buff. I managed to read it,however it was tough going. It is not readably written and is clearly aimed at professionals in the field. It focuses narrowly on the archaeological finds from the Bronze age which are primarily weapons. There is little attempt to flesh out the everyday lives of the people of the time. The author is more concerned with documenting every forth word. He doesn't correlate with any of the recent work in other fields such as linquistics or genetics. I was attracted to the cover picture. He eventually reveals that it is a drinking scene.Unfortunately it is cropped so that the steins are obscured.I was frustrated that he never gives any explanation of the garments depicted. There have been finds of ancient fabrics as attested to by Elizabeth W.Barber and her collegues. Women's work doesn't seem to interest Kristiansen.Unless you need it for your PhD.I suggest you give it a pass.

Rating:
Summary: Tough Going
Review: I was attracted to this book because I am an armchair archaeology buff. I managed to read it,however it was tough going. It is not readably written and is clearly aimed at professionals in the field. It focuses narrowly on the archaeological finds from the Bronze age which are primarily weapons. There is little attempt to flesh out the everyday lives of the people of the time. The author is more concerned with documenting every forth word. He doesn't correlate with any of the recent work in other fields such as linquistics or genetics. I was attracted to the cover picture. He eventually reveals that it is a drinking scene.Unfortunately it is cropped so that the steins are obscured.I was frustrated that he never gives any explanation of the garments depicted. There have been finds of ancient fabrics as attested to by Elizabeth W.Barber and her collegues. Women's work doesn't seem to interest Kristiansen.Unless you need it for your PhD.I suggest you give it a pass.