Antiquity 68 (259)

Focus on the destruction, in 1869, of the Tolmen (a supposedly prehistoric monument that turned out to be a natural phenomenon) forms the basis of a discussion of broader issues. These include the initiation of the concept of a national prehistoric cultural landscape, the establishment of disciplinary boundaries, the significance of monuments in the landscape, and the formulation of ancient monuments legislation.

The revised radiocarbon calibrated curve, published last year, extends back into the Pleistocene the radiocarbon determinations that can be converted to real calendar years. For determinations of any age, the right judgements and statistical considerations must be followed if the real information held in the determinations is to be found. This paper provides advice and worked examples.

A consideration of the relationship between post-processual theory -- which often purports to examine wider public perceptions that are not synchronous with those of professionals or academics -- and practical heritage management of archaeological sites. It is concluded that post-processual theory has, so far, only provided introspective analyses of the discipline rather than a definition of what archaeology actually does in the outside world.

Details an experiment on rock art sites in the north-east of England, investigating whether known and seemingly unavoidable bias in find type recognition during fieldwalking can be overcome by adopting a number of approaches with variable but known success rates.

A paper concerning collectors, looting and the right relationship between museums, researchers and the antiquities market.