If you consider yourself an archeological traveler, Scotland has much to offer, with its Viking settlements, standing stones, and Roman fortresses. This edition of the Oxford Archeological series will help you distinguish your brochs from your oghams, your mottes from your souterrains--and tell you where to find the best examples of each.
Chosen for their good condition, interest to the visitor, and accessibility, the 150 sites included date to A.D. 1200 and are arranged alphabetically by region: Dumfries and Galloway; Borders; Lothians and Edinburgh; from the Clyde to the Forth; Fife, Angus, Stirling, and Perthshire; Argyll and Bute; Aberdeenshire and Moray; Highland South; Highland North; The Northern Isles; and the Western Isles. Each listing includes driving directions and a grid reference to the site's location on the Ordnance Survey Landranger map (which is not included in the book). Many entries are illustrated with site plans, maps, diagrams, and some of the better photographs in this Oxford series. Useful introductions help set each site within the context of human development, covering domestic life, transport, art, and war. Here's an example from a write-up on the Chesters fort near Drem:
The surprising aspect of this fort is its location, which shows a total disregard for defensive strategy. It lies at the foot of a ridge at the mercy of attackers on higher ground with the advantage of overlooking the interior of the fort. This apparently suicidal choice of location must imply that prestige rather than defence was the major concern. With the economic wealth of this fertile coastal plan at their command, the Chesters community may have had no fear of attack.--Kathryn True
Review
`The Oxford Archaeological Guides offer a wealth of detailed, accurate but always readable information, providing anyone who has a serious interest in archaeology with the means to derive the utmost benefit from a visit to an ancient site. They are user-friendly and highly recommended.' Paul Bahn
`Judged on Scotland: An Oxford Archaeological Guide and the plans for the series as a whole these books will fill the gap in travel literature that has been obvious for a very long time. The entries in Scotland betray both genuine affection for the country and its antiquities, and the exercise of the sort of judgement that one can trust to point what will be found rewarding on the ground.' Peter Salway
`Anna and Graham Ritchie together have an unparalleled kknowledge of the Scottish heritage ... this guide is well laid out, beautifully illustrated, and with clear instructions regarding access.' Steven Mithen
`Call it "Travels with my Trowel" - this splendid Oxford Archaeological Guide to Scotland is an indispensable vade-mecum for the discriminating traveller.' Magnus Magnusson
`A valuable companion, whether on the desk or in the pocket.' Andrew Sherratt
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