If you’re looking for inspiration then this new book is at the top of our recommended reading list! Written primarily by Salisbury resident, archaeologist and Time Team regular Phil Harding, the book brings Salisbury’s archaeological evidence together for the first time to tell the story of the cathedral city and its residents through its past.
This special project was initiated by a need to document excavations that had taken place in Salisbury in the 1980s. Excavations have taken place in the city since the 1960s, creating a wealth of information that has now been drawn together emphasising the narrative of the city that developed around the landmark cathedral. However, no previous accounts, as told by the excavated remains, have been compiled before.
The book is not confined to the medieval city but also summarises settlement from the earliest Stone Age occupants to the present day. The volume, which aims to provide a broad description of the city and its past that can allow readers to examine related sources in more detail, includes summaries of the animal bones, which formed important parts of the residents’ diet, by Lorrain Higbee and the pottery, which contributes vital dating evidence from excavations, by Lorraine Mepham. These combined chapters make it possible to expose traces of the most important elements of the city and the lives of its former residents, their professions, the houses they lived in, their food, water supply and sanitation. You can buy the book through Waterstones, Book Depository and Amazon.
