http://www.oup.com/uk/catalogue/?ci=9780199217519
The History of British Birds
Derek Yalden and Umberto Albarella
Oxford University Press
Price: £55.00 (hardback)
ISBN-13: 978-0-19-921751-9
288 pages, 40 illus., 246x189 mm
Description
Co-authored by an ornithologist and an archaeologist, providing a balance of
expertise.
Indicates the extent to which climatic, agricultural, and social changes have
affected the British avifauna over 10,000 years.
Integrates a wealth of archaeological data.
The History of British Birds reviews our knowledge of avifaunal history over the
last 15,000 years, setting it in its wider historical and European context. The
authors, one an ornithologist the other an archaeologist, integrate a wealth of
archaeological data to illuminate and enliven the story, indicating the extent
to which climatic, agricultural, and social changes have affected the avifauna.
They discuss its present balance, as well as predicting possible future
changes.
It is a popular misconception that bird bones are rarely preserved (compared
with mammals), and cannot be reliably identified when they are found. The book
explores both these contentions, armed with a database of 9,000 records of
birds that have been identified on archaeological sites. Most are in England,
but sites elsewhere in Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel
Isles are included.
Britain's most numerous bird is also the most widespread in the archaeological
record, but some of the more charismatic species also have a rich historical
pedigree. For example, we can say quite a lot about the history of the Crane,
Red Kite, White-tailed Eagle and Great Auk. The history of many introduced
domestic species can also be illuminated. Even so, there remain uncertainties,
posed by difficulties of dating or identification, the vagaries of the
archaeological record or the ecological specialities of the birds themselves.
These issues are highlighted, thus posing research questions for others to
answer.
And the commonest British bird, then and now? Buy the book and read on...
Readership: This authoritative reference work will be of particular relevance to
students and researchers in the fields of archaeology and avian biology, as
well as a broader audience of general ornithologists and natural historians.
Authors, editors, and contributors
Derek Yalden, University of Manchester, UK and
Umberto Albarella, University of Sheffield, UK
--
Umberto Albarella
Department of Archaeology
University of Sheffield
Northgate House
West Street
Sheffield S1 4ET
United Kingdom
Telephone: (+) 44 (0) 114 22 22 943
Fax: (+) 44 (0) 114 27 22 563
http://www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/staff/albarella.html
For Archaeologists for Global Justice (AGJ) see:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/global-justice.html
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