The PAS puts its Objectcentric Ideology Out There - With 'Greenlight Press'....

Greenlight press (!)

Furthering the aims of public archaeological outreach and fighting dumbdown and superficiality, the PAS has just published its 'Finds in Context: Portable Antiquities are Evidence' by Dr Kevin Leahy and Dr Michael Lewis. This book shows how the study and systematically recording of context advances knowledge of the history and archaeology of England and Wales. The authors, highly qualified archaeologists have used their professional skills and methodological reflections to produce an attractive book that successfully raises awareness among the public of the educational value of archaeological finds in their context and what the research that this facilitates reveals about the use through the human past of Britain's cultural landscape and the sites in it. Now that archaeology has lost its innocence (Clark 1973) and no longer focused on the atavistic Kossinnist culture-historical and typological approach of the antiquarians, it is possible to present to the public archaeology in a way that allows them to get involved in the methodological discussions at the core of the discipline. The book well situates the reader in a position to appreciate ongoing discussions about the uses to which we put the finite and fragile archaeological record at these times wehen the heritage is coming under such pressure and at the same time becoming commodified. The British Museum is to be commended for their efforts avoid the temptations of the commercial press and to get such a well-grounded discussion of cutting edge theory explained in layman's terms into the hands of the reading public at such a reasonable price. This will allow British society to really come to grips and get involved in the very best of current archaeological discourse as equal partners rather than forcing them to the margins.  Post-processal theory really comes into its own here, eh? From a review:

It is organised on a thematic basis with similar objects from different ages grouped together, showing how they changed over time and helping you identify its age.

Cor.. a 'must have', then. Shall I get my Mum one for Christmas?

Is this PAS-legacy for 'citizen recording' when at last funding is withdrawn from a public-funded scheme and its database is archived in some neglected corner of the Internet?