Digging Lincoln
An Archaeological Memoir
By (author) Michael J. Jones
Paperback (Published)
(November 2024)
ISBN: 9781803278476
6.85 x 9.69 inches
Price: $35.00
In stock
Digging Lincoln is a uniquely personal account of how a record of the city’s rich archaeology was recorded from the time of the early antiquaries through to the commercially funded professional teams of today, by someone who was closely involved in a senior capacity for over half a century. The author recounts his background and initiation into archaeology, and the various arrangements under which an archaeological team for the city of Lincoln operated over the next few decades. It was both an exhilarating time and full of important discoveries, but also at times a struggle to survive in the face of other forces. Over that long period, appreciation of the importance of Lincoln’s archaeological story and its public presentation have grown remarkably, such that it has now become a major heritage destination.
Preface and acknowledgements Part One: From the Pit to the Trench Chapter 1: A personal backstory Chapter 2: 1966-70: Beginning in archaeology Part Two: The Early History of Archaeology in Lincoln Chapter 3: Shoulders and giants: antiquarians to archaeologists, c. 1700 - c. 1900 Chapter 4: 1906-1970: A museum and a research committee Part Three: Urban Archaeology in Lincoln Chapter 5: 1970-72: Becoming urban archaeologists Chapter 6: 1972-74: A new trust for Lincoln's archaeology Chapter 7: 1974-78: City under the county Chapter 8: 1978-84: Stability challenged and restored Chapter 9: A major exhibition: Lincoln comes of age, 1984 Chapter 10: 1984-88: County unit, and a new crisis Chapter 11: 1988-94: Another new dawn - another city unit Chapter 12: 1995-2000: Unit in distress Chapter 13: 2000-2005: Into the city Chapter 14: 2006-12: Winding up Chapter 15: 2012 On: Investment in Lincoln's heritage reaches new heights Chapter 16: Epilogue: some reflections Appendix: Some Wider Horizons Some Further Reading Index,
Preface and acknowledgements
Part One: From the Pit to the Trench
Chapter 1: A personal backstory
Chapter 2: 1966-70: Beginning in archaeology
Part Two: The Early History of Archaeology in Lincoln
Chapter 3: Shoulders and giants: antiquarians to archaeologists, c. 1700 - c. 1900
Chapter 4: 1906-1970: A museum and a research committee
Part Three: Urban Archaeology in Lincoln
Chapter 5: 1970-72: Becoming urban archaeologists
Chapter 6: 1972-74: A new trust for Lincoln’s archaeology
Chapter 7: 1974-78: City under the county
Chapter 8: 1978-84: Stability challenged and restored
Chapter 9: A major exhibition: Lincoln comes of age, 1984
Chapter 10: 1984-88: County unit, and a new crisis
Chapter 11: 1988-94: Another new dawn - another city unit
Chapter 12: 1995-2000: Unit in distress
Chapter 13: 2000-2005: Into the city
Chapter 14: 2006-12: Winding up
Chapter 15: 2012 On: Investment in Lincoln’s heritage reaches new heights
Chapter 16: Epilogue: some reflections
Appendix: Some Wider Horizons
Some Further Reading
Index
A native of South Yorkshire, after studying at the University of Manchester (1966-72) Michael J. Jones spent almost all his professional career in the city of Lincoln, becoming Director of the city’s archaeology team in 1980 and City Archaeologist in 2000. He has particular knowledge of Roman military and urban archaeology, and later developed expertise in the archaeology of the early Christian church and its international context. His job demanded also that sites of prehistoric to post-medieval date were explored, and that the results were made available not only to academic audiences but also to the wider public and schoolchildren. He has won awards for his work from the Society of Antiquaries of London, the University of Lincoln, and Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, where he is currently an Honorary Associate Professor. He has written a number of books and archaeological reports, as well as countless articles on the city’s archaeology and related matters. He has served on a number of local and national bodies, notably the Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology, of which he has been President.
- By (author) Michael J. Jones
"'Jones has made a considerable contribution to methods in urban archaeology, engaging with new theory and approaches of the time ... to decipher complex stratigraphic layers. Thus he and his colleagues have advanced the understanding of Roman Lincoln. ... An important contribution to the historiography of Lincoln's heritage, Digging Lincoln adds depth to our understanding of the emergence of professional archaeology.' - Lisa Brundle (2025): Current Archaeology 421"
—
‘Jones has made a considerable contribution to methods in urban archaeology, engaging with new theory and approaches of the time … to decipher complex stratigraphic layers. Thus he and his colleagues have advanced the understanding of Roman Lincoln. … An important contribution to the historiography of Lincoln’s heritage, Digging Lincoln adds depth to our understanding of the emergence of professional archaeology.’ – Lisa Brundle (2025): Current Archaeology 421
—
‘[Mick Jones] is uniquely qualified to be our guide to Lincoln, having been involved in its archaeology since 1970 and director of the field team, in its various guises, from 1979 until his retirement as City Archaeologist in 2012. For over 30 years, his was the steady hand taking the city’s archaeology through many twists and turns in its organisation and funding – and Lincoln has had more of both than most places.
…what we are left above on all on reading [Mick’s] most excellent memoir is the impression of a career well spent and a life well lived.’ – Patrick Ottaway (2025), Britannia Vol 56
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