Archaeologies of the British

The Archaeologies of the British examines the interplay of objects and identity in Britain, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Cyprus, and Sri Lanka. The evidence drawn upon includes vernacular architecture, landscapes, and objects of everyday life
Archaeologists have had an abiding interest in the rise and fall of state-level societies. Now they are beginning to turn their attention to the British Empire. Informed by developments in historical archaeology and by postcolonial scholarship, the case-studies in this volume look at the colonists themselves. Beginning with the early English colonisation of Ireland and Virginia, the international range of contributors examine the interplay of objects and identity in Scotland and Wales, regional England, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Cyprus, and Sri Lanka. The evidence drawn upon includes vernacular architecture, landscapes and objects of everyday life. "Archaeologies of the British" makes it clear that Britishness has never been a fixed entity, and that material culture can challenge historical and contemporary understandings of Britishness.