1054 SPECIAL SECTION war-torn country like Iraq, is part of the world’s don, and a delightful travelling companion, when heritage, then some mechanism ought to be I went as a ‘paying spouse’ on the annual visita- found whereby the world can help with finances. tions of the Ancient Monuments Board in Scot- How can we say to the government of Bolivia land, of which Wilkes was a Member. that they ought to earmark some resources for I was told by Colonel Gaddaffi and his minis- museums, when there are so many other des- ters that Libya had neither the need nor the de- perate needs? sire to open up the largest single coastline in the These reflections are penned amidst what Mediterranean to mass tourism. They were una- little remains of ancient Carthage. Scipio shamedly interested in specialist tourism. I sus- Africanus’ ‘Carthago delenda est’ and many pect that the greatest challenge in world successors certainly did their best, and all too archaeology may lie in co-operation with the Liby- effectively. But in Tunis there is one of the great- ans, in the restoration of their many world-class est collections of the world - the mosaics in sites. To find oneself almost alone in Leptis Magna, the Bardo museum. My desire to come to Tu- with noise emanating mainly from the resident nisia was ignited by two visits, the first in 1990, bird population was selfishly wonderful. and the second in March 2001, when I led the Whither archaeology? first Inter-Parliamentary Union visit to Sabatha, As a discipline, archaeology lies between the in Libya, and what is surely the greatest of all arts and the sciences, and is perhaps the best sites of Ancient Rome -Leptis Magna -a view discipline of all to engender flexibility of the shared by John Wilkes, Professor of the History mind. What could be more valuable in the 21st of the Roman Provinces in the University of Lon- century?

Anyone for writing?

PETERKEMMIS BETTY *

‘The universal interest in the past is perfectly natu- cific, since I have been involved, one way or ral. It is the interest in life itself. There was a time another, in publishing archaeological books for when archaeology was voted a dull subject, fit only 30 years, I shall be confining myself to my own for dry-as-dusts; yet it was not the subject that was direct experience of the opportunities and dif- dull, but its exponents. Those days are over.’ ficulties involved. Thus O.G.S. Crawford in his Editorial Notes It is only in the last 15 years of this period for the very first number of ANTIQUITY75 years that I have become increasingly convinced of ago. However admirable, this missionary zeal the need for more widely accessible books - is far from universal among present-day archae- and correspondingly concerned about the dif- ologists; moreover, the present-day funding of ficulty in commissioning appropriate authors. archaeology, though lavish compared with So what follows is, from one perspective, a shame- Crawford’s day, is in danger of quenching the less appeal to archaeologistswho share Crawford’s missionary flame even when it exists. Crawford vision to make my life as a publisher easier. How- was, of course, thinking primarily of journal ever, at the same time I do believe that a response articles as the medium for accessible commu- to this appeal would be in the interest of British nication; to these could be added not only books archaeology as a whole. and newspapers but, today, TV and the internet. To explain this self-serving assertion I fear I However, it is the success or otherwise of the need to indulge in a little ancient history. De- book in making archaeology exciting on which spite reading Classics at Cambridge my inter- I wish to concentrate, as it is only through book est in archaeology did not begin until some 10 publishing that I have had serious contact with years later. At that time I was employed as an the world of archaeology. To be even more spe- editor at B.T. Batsford, largely working on a

* Tempus Publishing Group Ltd, 30 Lillian Road, London SW13 SJC, England. [email protected] ANTIQUITY 76 (2002): 1054-8 ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE 1055 series of British Battles. The (chronologically) or archaeology anoraks. A wider range of book- first volume in this series, The Roman Con- shops was prepared to stock books in the se- quest of Britain, was authored by two academ- ries, with the result that (excluding a handful ics from the University of Birmingham - one of high-selling textbooks like Kevin Greene’s of them Graham Webster. A few years later Archaeology: an introduction)the English Her- Graham, like Crawford a natural enthusiast, itage books sold twice as many copies per title somehow managed to convince me that there as the rest of the list. Accordingly this successful was room in the market for another archaeol- experiment was consolidated in 1993 by a simi- ogy publisher. lar arrangement (which still continues) with As a result Graham was appointed as our Historic Scotland under the editorship of their Archaeology Adviser, with a brief to locate Chief Archaeologist, David Breeze. authors who could produce works of major Such was my experience of archaeology - importance, whether monographs or textbooks, the publication of getting on for 200 titles of a and by the mid 1970s we were publishing such varied nature from a variety of authors -when, titles as Roman towns in Britain and Techniques in 1996, just as I was finally severing contacts of archaeological excavation by Philip Barker. with Batsford following a disastrous takeover, Additionally we were soon publishing titles I received a call from Alan Sutton, who was aimed primarily at the extramural student or building up a new company (then called amateur, such as Graham Webster’s own book Chalford) after leaving the company he had Boudica. In 1990 Graham Webster was suc- founded 20 years earlier. At the time the com- ceeded by Professor Michael Fulford and by pany was confined to photographic local his- the time I left Batsford some five years later tory but Alan was anxious to diversify into (when this list was sold to Routledge) about general history and archaeology. 100 titles had been published. The invitation could not have come at a more The raison d’&tre of these books was first opportune moment. Not only had the previous and foremost to give a platform to professional 25 years given me a wide range of archaeologi- archaeologists, in support of their teaching ac- cal contacts but the ever-increasing size of pub- tivities. However, in 1988 the perspective of lishing companies, and their concentration on the list was to change significantly. Stephen the US market, provided a great opportunity Johnson, then the Publisher at English Herit- for a smaller publisher who could make money age, was searching for a commercial partner to from lower print runs needed for titles aimed produce a series of more popular archaeology primarily, or even exclusively, at the British titles (having failed to persuade his own or- market; moreover, with the near-demise of ganization to rise to the challenge). The idea Batsford, there was no publisher who was sig- was that authors would incorporate the latest nificantly or systematically publishing on as- research, much of it funded by English Herit- pects of British archaeology. age, but would write for a market that would I was eager therefore to commission books encompass a typical English Heritage or Na- which would present cutting-edge research or tional Trust member. much-needed syntheses for a wide readership. English Heritage committed themselves to The underlying aim was to achieve the impos- an initial six titles and the following year we sible - of producing books that would appeal published Stephen Johnson’s Hadrian’s Wall to amateurs but would contain enough meat and Aveburyby Caroline Malone. I don’t think for students and professionals. The result was English Heritage ever formally approved an 14 books published in the second half of 1998 extension of the series, but Stephen and I in- under the new imprint of ‘Tempus’, beginning terpreted their commitment as ‘six titles at a with Wroxeterby Roger White & Philip Barker time’ and over the next 10 years published some and Hadrian’s Wall from Guy de la BBdoyBre. 50 titles. Most of the books were written by Later in that year I had the good fortune to top experts (who could have been producing publish three exceptionally brilliant books - specialist reports or student texts) but the mix Ian Stead’s The Salisbury Hoard (which went of subject matter, the clarity of writing and (no on to win first prize in the British Archaeo- doubt) the English Heritage logo enabled us to logical Awards), The Land of Lettice Sweetapple reach readers who were not academics, students by Peter Fowler & Ian Blackwell and Charles 1056 SPECIAL SECTION

Thomas’ Christian Celts: messages 6. images. to write. Given the range of professional (not Today, some four years later, we are publish- to mention amateur) archaeological activity and ing 45 archaeology titles a year. the number of potential authors available, the What I have learned over these four years, outsider might imagine that archaeologists even more dramatically than at Batsford, is that would be clamouring to write and publishers the wider interest in archaeology is stimulated would have the luxury of selecting the very best by two factors: the first is television, the sec- proposals from a wide field. ond is local involvement. As a publisher, what However, most readers of ANTIQUITY will one can do about the first insight is limited: a instantly be aware of the other pressures on book rarely reaches as wide an audience as does present-day academics. If only half what I am the television programme, and not every book told when 1visit university departments about published can be authored by Julian Richards the student-teacher ratios, the burdens of de- or Mick Aston. But the local connection is more partmental admin and the demands of RAE is interesting. Of its nature, archaeology is locally true, then it is a wonder that anyone has the based, and many local inhabitants of any area time to write at all - and this is ignoring pos- take a considerable interest, and indeed pride, sible digs in the long vacation and the normal in the history of where they live. So perhaps I demands of family life. should not have been surprised when our sec- ‘I am afraid to say that my time is extremely ond bestseller (after Mick’s archaeology) for 2000 limited at the moment because of professional was Martin Green’s archaeological exploration commitments that are all consuming and I can of his family farm near Salisbury, which was only afford to undertake additional projects published under the title of A landscape re- which either enhance my academic CV through vealed: 10,oooyears on a chalkland farm. Sig- the publication of new research, or which pro- nificantly, what these two authors have in vide me with substantial extra income. Unfor- common is an evident and infectious enthusi- tunately the book I have contracted to write asm for their subject, in addition to knowledge. for you falls into neither of these categories.’ As a result, people with no prior commitment These two sentences from a letter received a to archaeology are buying archaeology books couple of days ago neatly encapsulate the prob- for the first time. lems confronting the potential academic author. The interest in all things local raises the Few books will sell enough copies to earn sub- possibility that many excavations can be pre- stantial royalties for an author - so inevitably sented as a saleable popular account as well as he or she will be writing for other motives. But the traditional official report of doorstep pro- in the fight for survival university departments portions and at a price to match. (Indeed, it naturally strive for the highest possible research says much for the devotion to the traditional assessment on which their funds in part de- book that this art form survives at all when the pend. So they frown upon members whose alternative of a more complete archive on the writing does not earn maximum RAE Brownie internet might be more useful -for the few peo- points for the department. It is true that many ple who ever need to refer to the full report.) This would-be Tempus projects could be tweaked idea of the popular excavation report has worked to score,but basically it is a system within which well in the case of The Land of Lettice Sweetapple specialist speaks unto specialist. Ever since the and Wroxeter (both mentioned above) and even long-lamented closure of the old Extramural now Barry Cunliffe is working on a new single- Departments, popularization does not appear volume edition of Danebury. to be part of the academic’s brief. However, the unique selling point of the Yet, despite this hurdle, some academics (see Tempus list as a whole is not the subject area below) do succeed in producing accessible (though it is mostly British and a lot is local) books. So perhaps the straitjacket of the RAE but the degree of accessibility. And this is where can, on occasions, be a convenient excuse for a substantial problem has been encountered. those who have little interest in, or ability for, Tempus is only providing a platform for would- wider communication. And, of course, there be authors. We are not in the business of writ- is no obligation on archaeologists to write books ing books ourselves - so the list will only be of a popular character. As archaeology has be- as good as the authors who are eager, and able, come progressively more ‘professional’ and ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE 1057 specialized, the proportion of leading archae- pliments Elizabeth French on ‘making the ex- ologists who feel either motivated or equipped traordinary discoveries accessible to a general to write general or more accessible books has readership’; and Jill Eddison, who helped set declined. Just because archaeological features up the Romney Marsh Research Trust in 1987 are visible, many archaeologists do not feel that and more recently wrote for Tempus Romney their professional discipline is, or should be, Marsh: survival on a frontier, has just received the concern of the general public - any more the annual award from the British Association than are, say, nuclear physics or microbiology. for Local History in recognition of her contri- Perhaps for the same reason most academics bution to local history. But prima facie new are less than enthusiastic about popularizing work should preponderantly be coming from TV programmes such as Time Team. But, of the first two groups, the active professionals- course, it was Crawford’s thesis that archaeol- who, incidentally, are the first to complain (often ogy should be available to everyone as it was in a waspish review) when an author who is an ‘interest in life itself‘. seen as a non-specialist is rash enough to ‘in- Apart bom time, competence,inclination and trude’ on a territory they themselves have al- the lack of significant financial return, there is ready forsaken through default. another major stumbling-block to the produc- This opting-out of popularization raises a tion of archaeology books and that is the diffi- more general concern. A high proportion of culty of obtaining appropriate illustrations, archaeological activity is funded, one way or which are so essential to an understanding of another, from taxation. In an environment when the subject. Unless the author happens to be a there is increasing competition for public money, skilled draughtsperson and an equally skilled it would appear to be in the interests of any photographer, the cost of adequately illustrat- group to strengthen their grassroots support. ing a book far exceeds the likely royalties - At the moment, much of this work is being done especially if they have to make use of photo- by those involved in television (usually to the graphs from a museum collection. Many mu- derision of those in academe), but it does seem seums and organizations (including English to me that there are a number of bodies who Heritage, which has a commitment to encour- could be doing more to increase public aware- aging intellectual access to the historic envi- ness of the contribution of professional archae- ronment) are, with their scale of reproduction ology to our understanding of the past. fees, sadly pricing themselves out of the mar- In this respect it is not only the universities ket - with the result that the objects, build- that are open to criticism. English Heritage has ings or sites within their care will no longer be almost half-a-million individual members. The represented in publications. The raising of fees organization has a statutory responsibility for in this way, by bodies that are curating public education, but you would not guess it from the collections, is not only a disservice to schol- pages of its magazine Heritage Today. This lives arship as a whole but is arguably counter-pro- in terror of the A-word and is in constant dan- ductive in itself: the likely result is that their ger of writing down to its members. It declines income will fall, not increase. to review books and the ‘Off the Shelf‘ feature Despite these roadblocks, Tempus’ first four of 3-4 books per issue only runs to 20-30 words years of publishing have seen about 125 archae- per book and is almost entirely devoted to His- ology titles. But the authorship split is reveal- tory & Architecture. There seems little attempt ing. Of this total, 30% has been produced by to explain to members the contribution that authors in university posts and a further 12% archaeology, substantially funded by English by those working for other archaeology bod- Heritage, can make to the understanding of our ies. But the group that has produced most ti- past. It is perhaps not surprising that, under tles is that of freelance writers of one sort or the section ‘Increasing understanding of the another (40%), supported by retired academ- historic environment’ in the Annual Reports ics who have contributed a further 18%. The and Accounts 1999/2000, there is no mention reason why I think that this is an undesirable at all of what should be their flagship maga- split is not that the last two categories are not zine. Indeed, the targets listed in this report both knowledgeable and talented. A recent re- make no mention at all of any popular dissemi- view of Mycenae: Agamemnon’s capital com- nation of research. 1058 SPECIAL SECTION

Similarly archaeology would benefit from a However, this atypical abuse of the reviewer’s little more commitment to education in Eng- position pales into insignificance compared with lish Heritage site shops. In some outlets one the notorious academic censorship exercised gets the impression visitors are seen primarily by one archaeologist, who will not stock any as providers of cash, not as interested individuals books by one of our best-selling authors in a who might welcome the opportunity of further bookshop for which she has responsibility. A information beyond that of the introductory striking example of odium academicum. But booklet. Books are a commercial embarrassment, fortunately such occurrences are extremely rare.) taking up space that would be better occupied On balance, a reader might wonder why I by gifts and souvenirs. Obviously a shop needs am so wholeheartedly devoted to popular (or, to make money, but equally an English Heritage at least, semi-popular) archaeology publishing. shop should try to enthuse and inform visitors. Of course, if the company did not make money However, with archaeologists for the first time out of it, we would not be doing it - so, de- simultaneously occupying the jobs of Chairman spite my high-minded regrets at others’ short- and Chief Executive, the future may be rosier. comings, I cannot claim to be a genuine zealot. Lest I should sound too negative, two in- No, what has me completely hooked is (by and valuable aids (besides television) to the popu- large) the friendliness of archaeologists (at least larization of archaeology should be mentioned: to publishers, if not to each other). This is so the Ancient &MedievalHistory Book Club (with beguiling that I forget their elusiveness and about 20,000 members) and the magazinesljour- reluctance to write - which is balanced only nals which publish more than once a year - by their absurd promises of prompt delivery in particular Current Archaeology (surely the iflwhen they do sign a contract. What is sure modern standard bearer of Crawford’s dream), is that, when a typescript is delivered five years British Archaeology and ANTIQUITYitself. It is late, it is essential that it should be published true that the Book Club is not over-enthusias- in five weeks. Even we, who can turn a jumble tic about dirt archaeology and has reservations of material into a book in less than three months, about local studies, but it particularly likes books occasionally fail that expectation. in which the archaeology can support a story. In conclusion, if I can be permitted to end Anything Romano-British is (to judge by its on an even more personal note and mention purchases) music to its readers’ ears. As for the someone who is an ancient historian rather than journals mentioned above, if it were not for their an archaeologist: I count myself particularly frequent reviews the average author (not to privileged to have published Tony Birley’s first mention the potential reader) would have to book, Life in Roman Britain, in 1964, and 38 wait a couple of years before getting any pub- years later (after other publications from him lic reaction to his or her efforts. in the 1970s and 1980s) to have followed this (Just occasionally, this welcome attention up with Garrison life in Vindolanda in 2002. backfires. In a recent review from one of the A meticulous scholar, he is a shining example above-mentioned journals the only other au- of someone who is happy to seize the opportu- thority in the land reviewed one of our books nity of producing a more accessible volume on an aspect of the British Neolithic. Not only when required. But then he left the British aca- did the reviewer castigate our author for not demic world (for Germany) many years ago. writing a different book from the one he had, I now eagerly await calls from other prospec- but then he went on to recommend the only tive authors who will still be writing for Tem- readable book on the subject - written by him- pus (if not for me) in 2040! Otherwise Crawford’s self. But even on this occasion we stuck to our proud boast of 75 years ago may seem to have belief that any publicity is better than none! made in vain: the ‘dry-as-dusts’may yet win.