Book Feature: Nostalgia. "A canny blend of folktale, observation and imagination"

We are all nostalgic about the past, we collect memorabilia and heirlooms of one sort or another and, on the whole, we're a pretty sentimental bunch. But spare a thought for the Greeks - their past was inhabited by giants, titans, gorgons, sirens, sea monsters and a variety of other strange mythical beasts. A new book by John Boardman tells us why this was so.

Book Feature: War of the Words. Medieval Warfare and Weaponry

Warfare is a constant favourite with classicists, medievalists and many other readers besides. Recently, however, books on battles, weapons and armour have been proliferating and fighting for space on our review shelves and catalogue pages. It is tempting to call it a sign of our times.

Book Feature: Down to Earth. A textbook on geoarchaeology?

Not an exhaustive overview, no specialist knowledge required, but deliberately aimed at the student and/or professional working in the field ... when is a textbook not a textbook? Enter the slim volume which strives to introduce the archaeologist to the potential archaeological application of geoscientific methods and theories, all the while leaving out the "how to do it" details of the traditional textbook.

Book Feature: The A to Z of Who's Who

The phrase 'Who's Who' was once synonymous with the annual Who's Who directory, which is currently in its 155th edition in the UK. This book formed the ultimate guide to the most gifted, famous and influential figures of today and yesteryear. Now, in the latest Who's Who look-alikes, you can find out who's hot and who's not in British History, in the Middle Ages, and in the Christian world.

Quirky Book of the Month

It is not everyday that a book with such a blatantly ... well ... phallic cover drops on your desk! The fact that the text in Le Phallus Dans L'Art et la Culture isn't in your native tongue shouldn't hinder your enjoyment (ahh-hem) or your understanding of the book. One thing's for sure though ... it won't improve your French.

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.

Meet the Author: Anna Marguerite McCann ... and the underwater world of Skerki Bank

Anna Marguerite McCann is a pioneering woman in the field of Maritime Archaeology. She is known for her work on ancient Roman harbours, and has most recently made a splash as the first archaeologist to explore the deeper oceans using the new robotic technology. I recently caught up with Dr McCann across the email ether, and she agreed to answer a few questions about her work for OXeN readers.

From Pots to Privies: Some Reflections on the SHA

The Society for Historical and Underwater Archaeology attracted a record 1100 people to a bitterly cold Providence convention center in mid-January. This meeting goes from strength to strength, and is due to spread its international wings in 2005 as it moves to York, England. OXeN reviews the meeting, and takes a personal look at the latest trends in the world of post-medievalism.