Medieval women - cross them at your peril!

Two new studies of the lives of Eleanor of Aquitane (by Douglas Boyd) and Queen Isabella, Wife of Edward II (by Paul Doherty), reveal how the shrew is the She-Wolf in sheep's clothing.

The Romans in the Desert

War is a theme we are all too familiar with these days, but a quick look at the history books shows us that conflict was never far away during ancient times, either. Simon James's Excavations at Dura-Europos, Final Report VII, The Arms and Armour and Other Military Equipment brings this point home in spectacular detail, with hundreds of finds described and illustrated.

Did you know you should be interested in animals?

Animals are an integral part of any human society; whether for food or traction, transport or simply for company, the presence of animals in archaeological contexts is an integral and exciting part of any excavation. It is with this in mind that we at Oxbow Books have taken on the mammoth task of publishing 14 volumes of archaeozoological thought...

Of all the new books that have passed over the desks of the Oxbow staff this month, these, for whatever reason, are the ones that grabbed their attention.

New Releases

Neolithic Revolution: New perspectives on Southwest Asia in light of recent discoveries on Cyprus
edited by Edgar Peltenburg and Alexander Wasse
Hardback. GB £40.00, GB £15.00

The move towards a sedentary way of life had a profound effect on the human way of life: the development of complex societies can be directly attributed to the beginnings of farming in place of a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle. When Gordon Childe coined the term 'Neolithic revolution' he meant it to reflect these vast changes that had occurred in the near east. This book extends the reach of these changes to include Cyprus, presenting new evidence that shows that the island played host to settled farming communities at the same time as the mainland, pushing its habitation back by 2000 years.

Behaviour Behind Bones: The zooarchaeology of ritual, religion, status and identity
edited by Sharyn Jones O'Day, Wim Van Neer and Anton Ervynck

This book is the first in a series of volumes which form the published proceedings of the 9th meeting of the International Council of Archaeozoology (ICAZ), held in Durham in 2002. The 35 papers present a series of case studies from around the world. They stretch beyond the standard zooarchaeological topics of economy and ecology, and consider how zooarchaeological research can contribute to our understanding of human behaviour and social systems.

Colonisation, Migration, and Marginal Areas: A Zooarchaeological Approach
edited by Mariana Mondini, Sebastián Muñoz and Stephen Wickler

Human migration tends to involve more than the odd suitcase or two - we often carry other organisms on our travels, some are deliberately transported, others move by accident. This volume of 12 papers offers a zooarchaeological approach to questions surrounding the nature and extent of human colonisation and migration, and the adaptation of humans to new and sometimes extreme or challenging environments.

The Future from the Past: Archaeozoology in Wildlife Conservation and Heritage Management
edited by Roel C G M Lauwerier and Ina Plug
Hardback. GB £45.00, GB £10.00

The applications of zooarchaeological research can go far beyond the realms of the lab or the site report. These 18 papers are all concerned with the contributions archaeozoologists make to specific problems encountered in the management and conservation of our natural and cultural heritage.

Book Sale: Bargains at Prehistoric Prices!

This month we're offering OXeN readers the chance to get their hands on some amazing Prehistory bargains. All titles are offered on a 'first-come, first-served' basis so when they're gone, they're gone...