What do you think?
Rate this book
Mick's Archaeology
For Professor and Channel 4 personality Mick Aston, landscape archaeology remains his first love, because it provides so much information about how ordinary communities lived in the past. Environmental archaeology, experimental archaeology, the archaeology of buildings, and his great project at the village of Shapwick in Somerset are just some of the other subjects brought excitingly to life in Mick's colourful and action-packed pages. Reading this book, it is easy to share the author's basic conviction that "Archaeology is fun."
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
4 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Mick Aston
21 books12 followersMichael Antony "Mick" Aston, FSA (1 July 1946 – 24 June 2013) was an English archaeologist who specialised in Early Medieval landscape archaeology. Over the course of his career, he lectured at both the University of Bristol and University of Oxford and published fifteen books on archaeological subjects. A keen populariser of the discipline, Aston was widely known for appearing as the resident academic on the Channel 4 television series Time Team from 1994 to 2011.
Born in Oldbury, Worcestershire to a working-class family, Aston developed an early interest in archaeology, studying it as a subsidiary to geography at the University of Birmingham. In 1970, he began his career working for Oxford City and County Museum and there began his work in public outreach by running extramural classes in archaeology and presenting a series on the subject for Radio Oxford. In 1974, he was appointed as the first County Archaeologist for Somerset, there developing an interest in aerial archaeology and establishing a reputation as a pioneer in landscape archaeology – a term that he co-invented with Trevor Rowley – by authoring some of the earliest books on the subject. In 1978 he began lecturing at the University of Oxford and in 1979 became a tutor at the University of Bristol, supplementing these activities by working as an archaeological tour guide in Greece.
In 1988, Aston teamed up with television producer Tim Taylor and together they created two shows which focused on bringing archaeology into British popular consciousness. The first was the short-lived Time Signs (1991), although this was followed by the more successful Time Team, which was produced for Channel 4 from 1994 to 2013. Aston was responsible for identifying sites for excavation and for selecting specialists to appear on the show, and through the programme became well known to the viewing public for his trademark colourful jumpers and flowing, untidy hairstyle. In 1996 he was appointed to the specially-created post of Professor of Landscape Archaeology at Bristol University, and undertook a ten-year project investigating the manor at Shapwick, Somerset. He retired from his university posts in 2004, but continued working on Time Team until 2011 and in 2006 commenced writing regular articles for British Archaeology magazine until his death. Although Aston did not believe that he would leave a significant legacy behind him, after his death various archaeologists claimed that he had a major impact in helping to popularise the discipline among the British public.
Born in Oldbury, Worcestershire to a working-class family, Aston developed an early interest in archaeology, studying it as a subsidiary to geography at the University of Birmingham. In 1970, he began his career working for Oxford City and County Museum and there began his work in public outreach by running extramural classes in archaeology and presenting a series on the subject for Radio Oxford. In 1974, he was appointed as the first County Archaeologist for Somerset, there developing an interest in aerial archaeology and establishing a reputation as a pioneer in landscape archaeology – a term that he co-invented with Trevor Rowley – by authoring some of the earliest books on the subject. In 1978 he began lecturing at the University of Oxford and in 1979 became a tutor at the University of Bristol, supplementing these activities by working as an archaeological tour guide in Greece.
In 1988, Aston teamed up with television producer Tim Taylor and together they created two shows which focused on bringing archaeology into British popular consciousness. The first was the short-lived Time Signs (1991), although this was followed by the more successful Time Team, which was produced for Channel 4 from 1994 to 2013. Aston was responsible for identifying sites for excavation and for selecting specialists to appear on the show, and through the programme became well known to the viewing public for his trademark colourful jumpers and flowing, untidy hairstyle. In 1996 he was appointed to the specially-created post of Professor of Landscape Archaeology at Bristol University, and undertook a ten-year project investigating the manor at Shapwick, Somerset. He retired from his university posts in 2004, but continued working on Time Team until 2011 and in 2006 commenced writing regular articles for British Archaeology magazine until his death. Although Aston did not believe that he would leave a significant legacy behind him, after his death various archaeologists claimed that he had a major impact in helping to popularise the discipline among the British public.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 28, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Mick Aston delivers information with such passion and expertise, making it accessible for anyone interested in history but with no academic background. I loved learning about Mick's journey with archaeology and all the interesting and impressive projects he had been involved with throughout his career, as well as learning about the history and archaeology itself.
December 27, 2018
It was interesting to see just how experienced he was in terms of both archaeological methods and historical periods, as well as his key interests and sites. However, it was a rather short book, that will probably mainly be of interest just to his fans from watching Time Team - like myself. :)
January 20, 2013
Insightful, engaging, and educational. And my copy is signed by Professor Mick Jumpers himself!
Aside from some grammar "issues", which I've not corrected with a red pen, although it's extremely tempting, this is (for me) a very good book with fascinating photographs and a passion which shines like a beacon on a hillfort. Or something.
Knowing his voice, accent, and manner of talking, I found it easy to read his words and imagine him talking to me.
Such was my eagerness to learn more about Mick from him, and my seemingly constant enjoyment of many things archaeological, I didn't want to stop reading. But, when my eyes would not stay open at numerous minutes past two o'clock in the morning, I had to give in, often.
I loved it, I really did. And I've literally just - not one minute after finishing this one - bought another book; a recommended-by-Mick book by Paul Bahn, called Bluff Your Way in Archaeology.
Hoorahs for Mister Mick!
Aside from some grammar "issues", which I've not corrected with a red pen, although it's extremely tempting, this is (for me) a very good book with fascinating photographs and a passion which shines like a beacon on a hillfort. Or something.
Knowing his voice, accent, and manner of talking, I found it easy to read his words and imagine him talking to me.
Such was my eagerness to learn more about Mick from him, and my seemingly constant enjoyment of many things archaeological, I didn't want to stop reading. But, when my eyes would not stay open at numerous minutes past two o'clock in the morning, I had to give in, often.
I loved it, I really did. And I've literally just - not one minute after finishing this one - bought another book; a recommended-by-Mick book by Paul Bahn, called Bluff Your Way in Archaeology.
Hoorahs for Mister Mick!
September 29, 2018
A fascinating, engaging book, and a treasure to read. Highly recommended! 5 / 5
January 22, 2020
For Time Team archaeology fans, of whom I am one. Reading his words is a great way to honour a great show, and a great archaeologist who did so much for increasing the public's understanding of the subject.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews