Archaeological Finds Book

[Richard]

Hi everyone,
I hope you are all okay.
Does anyone know of any good books on identification and handling/storage of archaeological finds?
Thanks,
Richard

[Curator Kid]

First Aid For Finds, published by RESCUE, should be your first port of call for advice on initial handling, conservation and storage of finds. For identification you could probably start with one of the metal detectorist-orientated identification books for the basics - if you want exhaustive detail then you may need to go to specialist publications about each class of find.

Archaeological Finds: A Guide to Identification came out in 2004 and might seem like it should be the perfect answer to your question. However, it was almost universally slated by the archaeological profession for its inaccuracies, mistakes and poor advice - some of which could actually be dangerous if followed. I'd advise you to avoid it.

[Cautionary Tale]

Perhaps not for all of your queries, but as a fairly good start 'First Aid for Finds' is very well respected for storage and to a certain extent handling. As for identification, it depends on what your aims are/what period your finds are etc etc. I know there are a few specialists lingering on the forum......

(i was honestly typing that before CKs reply came up)[:I]
Desiderate le fritture con quello?

[Richard]

Thanks for the replies.
The period in history in regard to artefacts are Roman and Anglo-Saxon mainly coins and pottery so if anyone knows of some specialist books that would be much apprecited.

I've heard quite a lot about Archaeological Finds: A Guide to Identification and according to sites like amazon - the reviews it has as Curatoe Kid said been slated!

[historic building]

Get hold of some good excavation reports for sites of a similar date, and possibly type, in the vicinity and compare their finds assemblages with yours. It will give you a more local or regional perspective than general studies of artefacts in which to interpret your material. As an example (without outing myself) the difference in roman assemblages from where I work now compared to my previous location, only about 80 miles away, is staggering.

[BAJR Host]

Not to publisise BAJR Books... (soon to go into partnership with a proper Heritage Bookseller!)

http://www.bajr.org/amazon/detail.asp?iPro=395&iType=4
Guide to Conservation for Metal Detectorists


or get yourself here.. and search!

http://www.heritagemp.com/book.asp




"Archaeology is the search for fact. Not truth."
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

[Tile man]

I agree with HB that the best start are published excavations of the correct region/ period
Then I would recommend Shire books as an excellent and cheap guide

For Roman pottery a there is Paul Tyers' book
http://www.potsherd.uklinux.net/atlas/pu...ex.php#rpb
a second edition in prep, and the first at librarys or via abe books
https://www.abebooks.co.uk
The following websites should alos supply useful information
http://www.sgrp.org/
http://www.potsherd.uklinux.net/

[John Walford]

It might be worth looking at the range of titles published by Greenlight Publishing http://www.greenlightpublishing.co.uk/tr.../books.cfm
These are aimed at the metal detecting market, so are not heavily academic, but they do give a good overview of the commoner find types. Of those that I have read, I would particularly recommend the one on Roman coins by Adrian Marsden.

[Steve-B]

Brian Read has also produced some excellent artefact identifying books, such as 'Artefacts of Antiquity' and if you can find a used copy, 'History Beneath Your Feet'






http://www.detector-distribution.co.uk

[Digger]

Richard, all depends on the region you are working in. What types of pottery are you looking at? Severn Valley wares, Black burnished, Oxford etc. Dont forget your local PAS officer for coin and other metal work finds.