Is there such a thing as Atlantic culture?

[Mark R]

Here you go book geeks, my current bedtime read...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Facing-Ocean-At ... 199240191/

Prof. Cunliffe examines Atlantic cultures from Scotland to Spain, over 10,000 years, to examine various longue durée themes. It's not lightweight, but it's by no means dry and inaccessible, either.

I rather suspect that this one will appeal to sea paddlers quite a lot, but you'll know if this is your sort of thing. Unmissable, if so.

This is the kind of thing I can be found doing, whilst others are in the garage measuring skegs, or whatever else rocks their world. We all have our own private shame...

[sleepybubble]

Here you go book geeks, my current bedtime read...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Facing-Ocean-At ... 199240191/

Prof. Cunliffe examines Atlantic cultures from Scotland to Spain, over 10,000 years, to examine various longue durée themes. It's not lightweight, but it's by no means dry and inaccessible, either.

I rather suspect that this one will appeal to sea paddlers quite a lot, but you'll know if this is your sort of thing. Unmissable, if so.

This is the kind of thing I can be found doing, whilst others are in the garage measuring skegs, or whatever else rocks their world. We all have our own private shame...

That review makes numerous references to the Fortean times as if it is somehow associated with this book? If so I would imagine it might hold some value as fire lighters, any content going to be made up drivel.

Edit: No I have re read the review, its the review which is poorly edited drivel....

[Mark R]

Cunliffe is Emeritus Professor of European Archaeology at Oxford, and hence probably has some idea what he's talking about. Why on earth they have comments from the Fortean Times, is anybody's guess...there certainly aren't any references to ley lines or UFOs in the book. It's a bit like asking Russell Grant to review Stephen Hawking.

[snapper]

Looks to me like it's a collection of quotes of reviews from various publications.

Looks interesting. Mark, I know you're not an angler but a very interesting read is Cod by Mark Kurlansky. It's a historical and contemporary look at a fish that is the most important Atlantic dweller in history in relative terms to humans. It's quite remarkable as a book and very well-respected.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cod-Biography-F ... 947&sr=1-1

I have a skeg. Haven't a clue whether I should measure it. Does it make a difference?

[Sprucey]

Snapper,

it depends on the wire you have and whether you are kinky or not?.........................oh, is this the wrong site?

Sorry, I'll get my coat!

Sprucey

[andyE]

I have a skeg. Haven't a clue whether I should measure it. Does it make a difference?

depends if you have skeg envy.

[gasserra]

There's also this one: http://www.amazon.com/The-Conquest-North-Atlantic-Marcus/dp/1843833166/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337913040&sr=8-1

[Seadog]

A good read from a serious scholar....From Chris Scarre's review in Antiquity [peer review journal] 2001

BARRY CUNLIFFE.
Facing t h e o c e a n : t h e A t l a n t I c a n d I t s p e o p l e s , 8000 BC-AD 1500.
viii+600 pages, 346 figures.
2001.
Oxford: Oxford University Pr e s s ;
0-19-924019-1

This handsome volume is the
lineal successor to Bowen’s Britain a n d t h e western
seaways (1972), yet goes far beyond its predecessor
in scope and depth. What Cunliffe has provided in
Facing t h e ocean is a magisterial account of the
development of human societies in Atlantic Europe
from the end of the last Ice Age to the close of Mid-
dle Ages. It contains a wealth of information and is
inspired throughout by a feel for the sea, and the
impact of the Atlantic on the peoples that live along
its edge. Initial chapters lay the groundwork: per-
ceptions of the Ocean, Atlantic geography, and the
all-important development of maritime technology.
A chronological treatment then ensues, beginning
with the Mesolithic and Neolithic, moving on to later
prehistory and the connections with the Mediterra-
nean fostered by Phoenician commercial interests,
then to Atlantic Europe as part of the Roman world,
the role of the western seaways I n the post-Roman
population movements, a n d the resurgence of At-
lantic economies in the Medieval period. A final chap-
ter sums this u p in a sequence of three cycles: the
first, from 4000 to 800 BC, marked by early contacts
between Atlantic communities that are revealed by
artefact and raw material exchanges and by shared
traditions such as megalithic monuments: the sec-
ond from 800 BC to AD 400, when the impact of the
Mediterranean world became dominant; and the third
from AD 400 to 1500, which saw the growth of a
new Atlantic system from the ruins of the previous
one.

The level of scholarship a n d the
breadth of vision are equally impressive, and along-
side the general concepts and the l o n g u e d u r k e , the
book is scattered with detailed insights which give
it value for the specialist as well as the general reader.
Production is excellent: it would be worth purchas-
ing for the quality of the illustrations alone. It is
only to be hoped that the attractive format does not
deflect serious scholars of Atlantic prehistory and
early history from paying this book the attention I t
deserves.
CHRIS S CAR R E
McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research
University of Cambridge