Introduction
to PPS index, volume 56 to 60
The previous index
I produced for Proceedings appeared in 1989 with volume 55. That
was the first one to be included within the covers of a volume, not
printed separately, and also the first produced on computer, not hand-written
cards.
It had the same
format as the two earlier indexes, with Subjects and Sites listed separately,
likewise Authors of Articles and Authors of Books Reviewed. This time
Subjects and Sites are all together and there is one Authors section,
but no Geographical Lists. This is the procedure recommended by Cherry
Lavell, the doyenne of archaeological indexing, and is easier
to do. I would appreciate comments from users.
It was agreed in
'89 between the then editor, J.G. Evans, and myself that indexes would
in future appear every five volumes, not ten. These five issues make
an impressive stack and comprise a total of 2080 pages - an incalculable
amount of information, which it does seem right to make more accessible
as soon as possible.
Being at the cutting
edge of archaeology, PPS always reflects the trends within the
subject. This time what strikes me is the dramatic increase in discussion
of non-functional activity in the past. Not long ago `ritual' was a
dirty word, used only when you could not explain a feature any other
way. Now, in these post-processual times, the entry for ritual activities
has had to be split up by periods to make it manageable. Some authors
will even hazard guesses as to the beliefs underlying these activities.
The British Isles
naturally continue to be the main focus for articles, and you will find
entries for Scotland, Ireland, and Wales (the last continues to do very
well!), to help you around; also for Africa, Australia, and a few other
far-flung locations. There are 13 articles on subjects outside Europe
and 21 within Europe, of which 8 are in 57(1) which was entirely
devoted to Palaeolithic art. This wide spread, from Papua to Ontario,
is a sign of vigour in our Society, and is emphasised in the two Presidential
Addresses here, by Thurston Shaw (56) and David Harris (60).
The publication
of old excavations such as Dorchester-on-Thames and Heathrow, never
an easy task, is particularly commendable. Excavation reports continue
to be a solid feature, but regional surveys are now seen as equally
important. Monuments and the landscape around them are 'in', but objects,
metalwork in particular, are 'out'. What shifts of emphasis will we
see in the next five volumes?
Bridget A.V.
Trump
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