Dr. Mary Beard,Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge, Royal Academy of Arts Professor of Ancient Literature, and the Classics editor of The Times Literary Supplement, describes Dr. Richard Hodges new book as聽鈥楢n insider鈥檚 view of archaeology for the curious!鈥�聽She goes on to state聽鈥楬odges claims he became an archaeologist 鈥渢o travel to the past鈥�. Here is a wonderful and intriguing collection of his postcards from that journey.鈥�
President Hodges explains聽Travels with an Archaeologist,听聽and scheduled for release on the 4th May聽2017, as a series of essays聽鈥榓bout places and people, and above all their spirit.鈥� 聽For Dr. Hodges, archaeology is about聽鈥榟earing, smelling, tasting and touching past textures in our time. With these senses, in the company of friends, new places are created from old ones.鈥櫬�This publication allows we, the readers, walk with the archaeologist as he explores sites across the globe and ponders the relationship of the individual with the past and present of the past in its ruins, its monuments and traces of distant worlds and civilizations.
鈥� From Albania to Yemen, Hodges has written an immensely readable book that will inspire the archaeologist in all of us. Part travelogue, part historical account, he shares his experiences with some of the most fascinating characters and sites of our times. Travels with an Archaeologist is a sensory adventure full of scholarly insights and wry observations gathered together over a remarkable career in archaeology.鈥�
Lynn Meskell, Professor of Anthropology, Stanford University, USA.
Having, as it were, exclusive access to Dr. Hodges, we put a few questions to him to better understand the process of compiling these essays and to understand a bit more about what the five senses bring to the experience of an archaeologist:
Q1.聽Each essay within this book conveys聽a fantastic sense of place 鈥� did you write the descriptive elements in situ聽or do you write from your recollections?
A1. 聽鈥業 wrote all of the pieces from memory, enjoying those memories immensely as I wrote.鈥�
Q2. Which of the senses, for you, is the most useful as an archaeologist.
A2. 鈥楪ood question. Honestly, sight is essential, but smell is quite particular. I shall always think of Knidos as I smell thyme.鈥�
Q3.聽Which of the senses do you find is the most evocative?
A3. 鈥楩or me, sound, without doubt. Macaws in the Mayan site of Copan 鈥� nothing quite like it as the jungle came alive in the morning.鈥�
Q4. 聽If you could stimulate one reaction from your readers when they close your book, what would it be?
A4. 鈥�Travel. Travel and immerse yourself in a past place, not so much listening to its history but finding your own sensual connection with the place.鈥�
Table of contents
List of Illustrations
Preface and acknowledgements
1. Introduction: An archaeologist鈥檚 sense of the past
Part 1 In the Company of Placemaking People
2. In Charles Newton鈥檚 Shadow: Searching for Demeter at Knidos
3. Wim van Es and the Discovery of the Dutch 鈥楾roy鈥�, Dorestad
4. Johnny Mitchell and San Vincenzo al Volturno鈥檚 First Saint
5. Riccardo and Quinto 鈥� Place-making at 鈥楲ost鈥� Tuscan villages
6. Breakfast with Colin Renfrew
7. Reviewing Lisa Fentress at Alatri
8. With Giussy Nicolini where the Blue Begins
9. Remembering Albanian Heroines
Part 2 Finding the senses
Hearing
10. Boreal Butrint and its Golden Oriels
11. Sublimity: Hidden in the Togate鈥檚 Folds
12. Fireworks at Cop谩n
Sight
13. Seeing beyond Sparta: Mistra
14. Sights and sanctuary at Saranda
15. Cavernous Spectacles of Colour: S. Michele at Olevano and the Crypt of the Original Sin
16. A Renaissance Dream House at Visegr谩d
厂尘别濒濒听
17. The smell of the Desert: Doha and Al Zubarah
18. Smelling Spices in Sana鈥檃
19. The Disturbing Scent of Gold 鈥� Rosia Montana, Transylvania
Taste
20. Tuscan Cooking Classes and S.Pietro d鈥橝sso
21. Red Mullet and Retsina on Aegina
22. The taste of Key Lime Pie
Touch
23. Touching 鈥楪old鈥� in Gordion
24. In touch with Rome鈥檚 Ex-pat dead: Rome鈥檚 Non-Catholic Cemetery
25.听Bunga bunga?
Index
Richard Hodges OBE, is President of 91吃瓜, Italy. He is the editor of the Debates in Archaeology series; and his publications include Dark Age Economics, The Anglo-Saxon Achievement, Towns and Trade in the Age of Charlemagne, Goodbye to the Vikings and (as co-author) Villa to Village, all published by Bloomsbury. He has previously been Director of Archaeology for the Butrint Foundation and Director of the Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, USA.
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