Author Description

"Hertfordshire has a rich heritage of archaeology and of archaeological research. The Iron Age remains at St Albans, Wheathampstead and Braughing are well-known, as are the Roman town of Verulamium and the villa sites at Lockleys, Dicket Mead and Park Street. The heritage of other periods is less well-known, although recent research, originally by local groups such as the Welwyn Archaeological Society (WAS) and more recently by professional field units in advance of development, is filling in the gaps. This volume celebrates the close collaboration of professional archaeologists and highly skilled avocational groups that is a hallmark of archaeology in Hertfordshire. It grew out of a conference organised by WAS to recognise the achievements of its founder, Tony Rook, on his eightieth birthday. The fifteen papers focus on various aspects of the archaeology of Hertfordshire, from the Neolithic to the post-Medieval periods, and include a report on the important excavations at Norton. Several chapters focus new attention on the Iron Age and Roman periods, both from a landscape perspective and through detailed studies of artefacts, whilst a discussion of the rare early Saxon material recently excavated at Watton at Stone makes a vital contribution to our knowledge of this little-understood period. All of the papers in the volume follow Tony Rook's example by linking a focus on the local scene with an understanding of wider issues in each period. Tony Rook and his wife Merle came to Welwyn in 1960, and with a team of dedicated volunteers, they founded the Welwyn Archaeological Society and set to work recording and excavating threatened sites throughout central Hertfordshire, including the Roman bath house at Welwyn -- at a time when archaeology had very little statutory protection and even less funding. Tony ran the Welwyn Archaeological Society until 2009 and is the author of many books on the county including A History of Hertfordshire."--Page 4 of cover.