Book Review: Exploring Avebury by Steve Marshall

I've always wanted to learn more about Avebury stone circle, a site that I've visited a few times and these days is less than 20 minutes away by car. However, until now I hadn't found a book that made learning about the more than 200 stones accessible and enjoyable. Now, I've found that book!

This book is packed full with photographs and importantly maps - lots of lovely maps - that are the key to making such an impressive site accessible on the written page. Many books rely on description, but unless you're as familiar with a site as the author, this often doesn't work.

Sites like Avebury are complex and seem to be a piece of a greater whole, also they were made within the environment of the group of people that lived in the area over the time it took to create these impressive wonders. It's all about connection. Connection to place and people.

With that said, I think someone who has never visited the site could read this book and walk away passionate about all the information learned about the stone circle and the 10 square miles around this site. That's the genius of this book, the words provide the detail while the amazing photographs, diagrams and maps help provide the context, put together this package creates an immersive book.

Other sites include West Kennet Long Barrow, which has a diagram numbering each stone and then numbered photographs of most of the stones. Also, Silbury Hill receives a detailed account including construction and why it is the shape it is, along with, of course, illuminating photographs throughout the seasons.

I am very taken with this book (if you hadn't guessed), but it doesn't end here. The author's years of research were too much to contained within a book and has provided a website for anyone to use: Exploring Avebury - this is a sensible move as there is still much research in and around Avebury, so additional information will be added by the author as it comes available.

I wish more books were as detailed, yet as accessible as this book. For anyone interested in Avebury or this exciting period of time, then it won't disappoint.