Undiscovered Scotland

 

Channel 4's perennially popular Time Team take us on an archaeological sight-seeing tour of Britain and Ireland. Region by region, they select the most interesting and important sites which are open to public visitors. Beautifully designed and extensively illustrated, this is a books that is both a pleasure to own and browse in its own right, and a fascinating and important work of reference for anyone with an interest in history or archaeology.

Britain and Ireland are divided into 15 regions within the book. From a Scottish perspective the areas of most interest are "Southern Scotland" (everything except the Highlands and Islands) and "The Scottish Highlands and Islands." We should perhaps declare an interest at this point, because many of the photographs used to illustrate the Scottish sections of the book were taken by Undiscovered Scotland: but even had this not been the case, The Time Team Guide is a book we would unreservedly recommend.

Each area chapter focuses on a small number of the most important sites, before taking a broader look at a wider selection of less important sites. In the section covering "The Scottish Highlands and Islands", for example, Skara Brae, Maeshowe and Iona get two pages each complete with photos and drawings, historical background and factual information. Other entries range from a column or two for Orkney's Italian Chapel to a smaller but still worthwhile entry for Hackness on Hoy.