I like to optimistically think that Professor Alice Roberts and I have a lot in common. That we’d probably get on quite well, have a fair bit to chat about. We both have archaeology and anatomy in our interests, why wouldn’t we get on? Then I remember that just because I’ve met a few people off Twitter who also share my interests and they are now people I call friends in real life does not mean that Professor Alice Roberts would too. I can live in hope. However she does write a bloody good book, which I can enjoy while merrily imagining what we might chat about in the pub over a pint.
Buried is Roberts’ book published in 2022 and it sets out to explore the first thousand years of history in Britain, effectively that bit that runs from popular school topics of the Romans to Normans including the bit people think we know very little about. The point that is made in this book is that while it is called the Dark Ages due to there being very little written history of this time, there are many examples of life from the period right under our feet. Often archaeology only embellishes what we already know or have in written record, however on some occasions it gives us not just an insight but an intriguing viewpoint that we knew nothing about previously.
This alternative history is presented in the medium of some archaeological examples which either are unusual or raise a number of questions which are explored. Without giving too much away (I am very aware I state no spoilers above), I really enjoyed the discussions around the migrations and the movements of individuals from around this time. I think we like to think everyone stayed put for a long time, especially with immigration being a pivotal issue in the recent general election. However we forget that for thousands of years people have moved either by choice or by force quite significant distances in their lifetimes. It is not a modern phenomenon.
Another aspect of this book I rather enjoyed was the linking of place names and their origins to different groups of people throughout time. If, like me, you either geek out over place names or enjoy finding out how places are named then you’ll enjoy this too.
It’s a phrase often used but I genuinely found this book quite hard to put down. One chapter does come with a warning due to it’s graphic nature, and I was also warned by a friend before reaching that point of it’s contents. It is a fair assumption that this requires a warning, I did in fact read this section and I can absolutely see why this could be upsetting. However, I think it is important that aspects of the past like this are included especially when it acknowledges how lucky we are to live in a time when such awful things aren’t necessary anymore.
All in all, I think you can tell that I really loved this book? I hope so.
MG x
Mortuary Gem 
Leave a comment