BARRY Marsden is an authority on the archaeology of the Peak District, a fellow of the Society of Antiquries and a member of the Institute of Archaeologists. Thus one could reasonably expect any book written by him to be scholarly and of great value to the historian and student — indeed, a reference work, which most clearly it is.

Yet it is so much more — a publication which grips both attention and imagination, one which fascinates, entertains and horrifies in equal measure.?The 'Barrows' referred to in the title, are ancient burial mounds, some dating back to Saxon times and a few well before that, to the Roman era.

The earliest recorded diggings in burrows — or, desecration, as it could fairly be termed, these being sacred graves and monuments — was in Norman times. It increased steadily with the passing of the centuries, with the 18th and 19th seeing the zenith.?The 20th saw a sharp decline in the practice, largely because there were relatively few barrows remaining to be excavated; however those that were opened up, were treated with a professional respect and care usually lacking during the previous centuries.

The reasons for the diggings were diverse, but acquisitiveness generally trumped altruism.?Some scooped out the relics to sell, knowing there was a ready market — and a healthy profit — available, whilst others such as local squires, landowners and, to their shame, clergymen, merely wished to possess such decorative objects from long gone ages.

Such folk not only pillaged the barrows, but in the process broke and destroyed remains, leaving open scars upon the landscape.

There were exceptions, of course — men who realised the historic importance of the barrows and who, accordingly, excavated them in orderly fashion, often saving the artefacts for museums and so forth, rather than harvesting them for personal gain.

Notable among the early members of this honourable group is William Sturkley who, between 1719 and 1743 conducted fieldwork throughout the country, putting together in the process a comprehensive collection of notes and sketches which have added hugely to present day understanding of this complex subject.

In consequence of his dedicated and exhausted efforts, he is regarded as the first truly significant archaeologist and antiquarian pioneer — indeed, authority in this field.

Many other antiquarians of note are mentioned, most of them prominent during the second half of the 19th century, such as John Mortimer, Thomas Bateman, Sir Richard Hoare, Canon William Greenwell and Lt Gen Pitt Rivers, who along with others, elevated barrow digging from sordid pilfering into a science which contributed greatly to mankind's knowledge of history (social and political), environment and heritage.

Just to say that Barry Marsden has penned a book of considerable erudition does not do it justice. For it is a work of great scope and breadth, covering a subject which is both complex and comprehensive, exploring the motley collection of men engaged in barrow digging throughout the ages, bringing both them and their work alive on the page.This is aided by the use of numerous pictures, photos, engravings and sketches gained from all over England, including the South West, illustrations which, as they are printed on high quality paper, add considerably to this excellent publication.

This quality work will find a wide range of homes, from historian to the casual readers with an interest in the past, from scholar to those who, simply, have enquiring minds.

l 'The Early Barrow Diggers' by Barry M Marsden published by The History Press ISBN 978-0-7524-6224-0 priced at £17.99.

Ted Sherrell