In this highly original account, Adam Stout demonstrates for the first time how a generation of determined and scientifically minded young archaeologists succeeded in creating the discipline of today.
Creating Prehistory deals even-handedly and sympathetically with the creation of several different sorts of prehistory during the volatile period between the two World Wars.
The author weaves a fascinating tale of the personalities and institutions involved in the development of archaeology and the marginalization of its competitors. He investigates the influence of the Diffusionists and their much-neglected pacifism, the controversial reappearance of the Druids at Stonehenge, and the sensational popularity of The Old Straight Track. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in today’s fascination with the prehistoric past.
