Beneath Our Feet: Everyday Discoveries Reshaping History

British archaeologists Lewis (The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry) and Richardson offer an impressive and exquisitely illustrated tribute to their field. “I had found ghosts,” recalls actor Mackenzie Crook in his foreword, referring to when, as a child, he discovered remnants of tobacco pipes in his back garden that suggested a spot where workers once took their smoke breaks. Such “amateur” archaeology, the authors argue, is essential to the discipline—throughout, the reader learns not only about rare objects discovered in Britain but also about the treasure hunters and everyday people who found them, including metal detectorists, mudlarkers, fieldwalkers, and gardeners. As Lewis writes, the efforts of professionals and amateurs complement each other, but there is some occasional friction—after all, archaeologists are driven by the goal “of answering questions about history,” whereas amateurs are on a more straightforward “quest to find archaeological objects.” For example, when a large-headed dog figurine of Roman origin was discovered by amateurs in 2017, it was a true treasure, but not legally within the category of archaeological find that can be claimed by the British state. Therefore, the artifact was sold at auction to a private collector who outbid the British Museum. Readers will savor this mostly sunny view of archaeological adventuring. (June)