Drawing on Archaeology ― Bringing History Back to Life

How does excavation enable the archaeologist to reconstruct the past? Victor Ambrus, who has been the Channel 4 Time Team artist since the program's inception in 1994, has selected some of the key excavations from the many series, especially those of the last three years, to show how it has been possible to recreate snapshots of the past. The book forms a collection of reconstruction drawings, which convert the bare bones of archaeological excavation into living history: through the eyes of the artist, we see people from the past going about their daily lives. What comes to light reflects not just drawing but the experiences of an illustrator for whom tramping through mud and wandering around in horizontal rain are all part of the fun. Ambrus' evocative sketches cover everyday life in the country and the towns; trade and industry; religion, crime and punishment. There are also sections on prehistoric animals, royalty and the antiquaries. This is a companion volume to the author's Recreating the Past, which won the History Today New Generation Book of the Year in 2002.