1
of
1
Ancestors
A prehistory of Britain in seven burials
Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.
Check link for latest rating. ( 2,990 ratings, 327 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still
learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Summary
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
Unit price
/
Unavailable
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY
Found a better price? Request a price match
Ancestors
$2799
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
An extraordinary journey through the ancient past of Britain, told through the stories of seven burial sites. By leveraging cutting-edge advancements in genetics and archaeological discoveries, Professor Alice Roberts illuminates our understanding of modern life through the lens of history.
"This is a terrific, timely and transporting book - taking us heart, body and mind beyond history, to the fascinating truth of the prehistoric past and the present." Bettany Hughes
In Ancestors, acclaimed archaeologist, broadcaster, and academic Professor Alice Roberts invites readers on an unparalleled exploration of Britainβs deepest roots. We often conceive of Britain's history as commencing with the arrival of the Romans, but this compelling volume challenges that notion by delving into the lives of the very earliest inhabitants of the Isles. With the meticulous examination of seven key burial sites and the revolutionary application of ancient DNA analysis, Roberts unveils the complex tapestry of migrations, cultural exchanges, and lineages that have shaped today's Britain.
Each burial site serves as a portal to the past, providing profound insights into our ancestors' lives and their enduring legacies. Robertsβs narrative illustrates how ancient peoples traversed vast landscapes, navigated the challenges of their times, and left indelible marks on their descendants. These sites encapsulate tales of forgotten journeys, written in our genes and preserved in the earth for millennia.
This book is not merely about ancient remains; it is a profound meditation on belonging and identity. Roberts encourages us to walk in the footsteps of our forebears, exploring ancient places imbued with history and significance. She reveals a story of interconnected global ancestry that underscores the shared human experience binding us through time and space. Through Ancestors, readers are prompted to reflect on their place in the world and the continuous thread of human existence that reaches into the distant past.
Far from being a dry recounting of historical facts, Ancestors is a vivid and evocative journey that melds scientific rigor with storytelling. Robertsβs extensive research and engaging prose bring to life the rich history lying beneath British soil, offering a profound connection to those who came before us.
PRE-ORDER CRYPT, THE FINAL BOOK IN ALICE ROBERTS' BRILLIANT TRILOGY β OUT FEBRUARY 2024.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Ancestors by Alice Roberts is highly praised for blending science and humanities with exceptional skill. Reviewers commend the book for its captivating storytelling, academic depth, and the author's ability to make ancient history come alive. It is described as a mind-altering and life-altering read, showcasing Roberts' mastery in presenting archaeological narratives with both scholarly intensity and a novelist's flair.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781471188046
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 03 February 2022
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Simon & Schuster Ltd
Illustration: B&W illustrations throughout
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 130.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 320g
Pages: 448
About the Author
Professor Alice Roberts is an academic, author and broadcaster, specialising in human anatomy, physiology, evolution, archaeology and history. In 2001, Alice made her television debut on Channel 4βs Time Team, and went on to write and present The Incredible Human Journey, Origins of Us and Ice Age Giants on BBC2. She is also the presenter of the popular TV series Digging for Britain. Alice has been a Professor of Public Engagement with Science at the University of Birmingham since 2012. Β
Also by Alice Roberts
View all-
Celts, The - Search for a Civilisation
Alice Roberts goes in search of the Celts and their treasures in a narrative history to accompany a new BBC series. We know a lot about the Roman Empire. The Romans left monuments to their glories and written histories charting the exploits of their heroes. But there was another ancient people in Europeβfeared warriors with chariots, iron swords, exquisite jewellery,...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Domination
This is the story of the fall of an Empire β and the rise of another. Who spread Christianity, how, and why? In her quest to find the answer, Professor Alice Roberts takes us on a gripping investigative journey. From a secluded valley in south Wales to the shores of Brittany; from the heart of the Roman Empire in a...Paperback$3500Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Crypt
The Sunday Times No. 1 Bestseller Chosen by Waterstones as one of their Best History Books of 2024 'Compulsive . . . A wonderful display of how modern archaeology can bring hidden histories to life' Daily Telegraph 'Gripping . . . I found it hard to put down' Evening Standard βFascinatingβ Guardian The history of the Middle Ages is typically...Paperback$2600Elsewhere:$2899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being
'From your brain to your fingertips, you emerge from her book entertained and with a deeper understanding of yourself' β Richard Dawkins 'A masterful account of why our bodies are the way they are . . . this book really shines . . . Roberts's lightness of touch is joyous, and celebratory' β Observer 'Witty, personal and above all informed...Paperback$3199Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Buried
A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER βTender, fascinating β¦ Lucid and illuminatingβ Robert Macfarlane Funerary rituals show us what people thought about mortality; how they felt about loss; what they believed came next. From Roman cremations and graveside feasts, to deviant burials with heads rearranged, from richly furnished Anglo Saxon graves to the first Christian burial grounds in Wales, Buried provides an...Paperback$2699Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Crypt
The new book by Sunday Times bestselling author of Ancestors and Buried - the final instalment in Professor Alice Roberts' acclaimed trilogy. In her previous two bestsellers, Professor Alice Roberts powerfully and evocatively revived people of the past through examining their burial rites, bringing a fresh perspective on how they lived. In Crypt, Professor Roberts brings us face to face...Hardback$5500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Wolf Mountain
Embark on an epic journey, in the jaw-dropping adventure to the bestselling and highly acclaimed Wolf Road, based on real archaeological discoveries, from awardβwinning historian and television presenter, Alice Roberts. 'A fine storyteller' Philip Pullman The seasons are changing and Tuuli, along with her faithful wolf cub, Lupa, is on the move. Leaving her tribe behind, she sets out across...Hardback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Wolf Road
Discover the history of our lifetime through the adventure of a girl and her wolf, in the bestselling children's novel from Digging for Britain presenter, Professor Alice Roberts. Selected as Waterstones Children's Book of the Month and The Times Children's Book of the Week. 'A fine storyteller' Philip Pullman βThis lost world is beautifully rendered, so rich in detail you...Paperback$1700Elsewhere:$1999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Wolf Road
Discover the history of our lifetime through the adventure of a girl and her wolf, in the bestselling children's novel from Digging for Britain presenter, Professor Alice Roberts. Selected as Waterstones Children's Book of the Month and The Times Children's Book of the Week. 'A fine storyteller' β Philip Pullman βThis lost world is beautifully rendered, so rich in detail...Hardback$3400Elsewhere:$3699Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Anatomical Oddities
Every part of the human body has a name - and a story. But how familiar are you with your arachnoid mater or your Haversian canals? Anatomical Oddities is an artistic and linguistic adventure, taking the reader on a journey to discover the hidden landscape of the human body: its crypts and caverns, gorges, islets, and mountains. Along the way,...Hardback$4399Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Buried
A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER βTender, fascinating β¦ Lucid and illuminatingβ β Robert Macfarlane Funerary rituals show us what people thought about mortality; how they felt about loss; what they believed came next. From Roman cremations and graveside feasts, to deviant burials with heads rearranged, from richly furnished Anglo Saxon graves to the first Christian burial grounds in Wales, Buried provides...Hardback$4999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
New ReleaseDomination
This is the story of the fall of an Empire β and the rise of another. Who spread Christianity, how, and why? In her quest to find the answer,Β Professor Alice Roberts takes us on a gripping investigative journey. From a secluded valley in south Wales to the shores of Brittany; from the heart of the Roman Empire in a time...Paperback$2899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
More from History & Military
View all-
Saving Elli
One child. Two years in hiding. Three lives in mortal danger. In Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, near Anne Frank's house, another Jewish girl is hidden. Her name is Elli. Her father has been executed at Mauthausen concentration camp. Her mother is fleeing for her life. Elli is next. To save her, resistance couple Frits and Jo Hakkens must risk everything, concealing her...Paperback$3299Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Spy and the Traitor
The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre is a spellbinding Cold War thriller that unravels the true story of Oleg Gordievsky, a KGB double agent who risked everything to aid the British in the battle against Soviet oppression. In meticulously researched detail, Macintyre paints a vivid portrait of espionage, double-crossing, and unparalleled bravery, giving readers a riveting glimpse into...Paperback$2100Elsewhere:$2600Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseSuicidal Empathy
The bestselling author of The Parasitic Mind shows why empathy in politics leads to civilizational collapse. What happens when a society elevates victimhood to a virtue and decides that punishment is cruel? You get the disease Dr. Gad Saad calls suicidal empathy. And the West may be terminally infected. In his new book, Suicidal Empathy, Saad unleashes a blistering critique...Paperback$3099Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Man's Search For Meaning
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl is a profound, thought-provoking memoir and psychological exploration that delves into the harrowing experiences of life in Nazi concentration camps, intertwined with the authorβs groundbreaking theories on existential psychology. The book is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, offering a beacon of hope and a roadmap for finding purpose...Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Betrayal
βTom Bower is the Inspector Morse of investigative biographers, a fluent, phlegmatic storyteller and a master of intricacies.β Sunday Times The British Crown is in crisis, with constitutional threats at home and abroad. At a landmark moment in royal history, can King Charles overcome the scandals that blight the Royal family? Can the broken bonds between the Houses of Sussex...Paperback$3499Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Chief and the Empire
The Chief and the Empire uncovers the extraordinary true tale of Te Tai Tokerau rangatira Te Pahi - the first influential MΔori leader to cross the Tasman - whose curiosity about the PΔkehΔ world forged alliances, saved lives, and ultimately cost him his own. On a visit to Sydney in 1805, Te Pahi was feted as a celebrity, building close...Paperback$3200Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Discipline
Silence is complicity, but how do we confront the cost of speaking up? Sydney, May 2021. Ashraf is an academic whose career and personal life are in freefall. Hannah is a young journalist struggling to honour the voices of her community. When a Year 12 Al-Bayinnah College student is arrested for protesting a university's ties to an Israeli weapons manufacturer,...Paperback$4000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Shattered Lands
'A sparkling debut by an outstanding young historian' β PETER FRANKOPAN 'This book is a revelation β¦ both original and important' β MISHAL HUSAIN A history of modern South Asia told through five partitions that reshaped it. As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia β India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and...Paperback$3699Elsewhere:$4500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Matariki: The Star of the Year
In mid-winter, Matariki rises in the pre-dawn sky, and its observation is celebrated with incantations on hilltops at dawn, balls, exhibitions, dinners, and a vast number of events. The Matariki tradition has been re-established, and its regeneration coincides with a growing interest in MΔori astronomy. Still, there remain some unanswered questions about how Matariki was traditionally observed. These include: What...Paperback$3399Elsewhere:$3500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Goliathβs Curse
Goliathβs Curse by Luke Kemp offers a radical retelling of human history through the lens of collapse, delving into what this means for our uncertain future. This narrative spans from the dawn of our species to the urgent existential threats of the twenty-first century and beyond. It's grounded in the latest research and a comprehensive database of more than 440...Paperback$2999Elsewhere:$4000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseThe Good Settler
βWhere once I saw a view as I drove around the Taranaki coast along State Highway 45, I now see confiscated land from an invasion road. The creation story I used to subscribe to, the one in which hard-working people came here and settled the land, now jars. Weirdly, even the lawn looks different. The form of things just wonβt...Paperback$3199Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Banjara
A powerful literary debut from an astonishing new Kiwi voice, focusing on the Indo-Fijian indenture system and how it affected generations across the Pacific.Rajasthan 1888: Avani Rathod, a nomad of the Banjara community, is summoned to teach a blue-eyed colonial officer the trees of her region, but instead is misled into indenture to the sugarcane plantations of Fiji. While on...Paperback$3099Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
