Footmarks - by Jim Leary (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

'Lucid, poetic and fascinating' ALICE ROBERTS

'Engaging, authoritative and full of fascinating stories of the past' RAY MEARS

'A gentle, personal and very readable book' JULIA BLACKBURN AUTHOR OF TIME SONG

'A triumph!' JAMES CANTON, AUTHOR OF THE OAK PAPERS

'I loved this book' FRANCIS PRYOR, AUTHOR OF STONEHENGE

On paths, roads, seas, in the air, and in space - there has never been so much human movement. In contrast we think of the past as static, 'frozen in time'. But archaeologists have in fact always found evidence for humanity's irrepressible restlessness. Now, latest developments in science and archaeology are transforming this evidence and overturning how we understand the past movement of humankind.

In this book, archaeologist Jim Leary traces the past 3.5 million years to reveal how people have always been moving, how travel has historically been enforced (or prohibited) by people with power, and how our forebears showed incredible bravery and ingenuity to journey across continents and oceans.

With Leary to show the way, you'll follow the footsteps of early hunter-gatherers preserved in mud, and tread ancient trackways hollowed by feet over time. Passing drovers, wayfarers and pilgrims, you'll see who got to move, and how people moved. And you'll go on long-distance journeys and migrations to see how movement has shaped our world.

Review Quotes

"An engrossing tour of the ways in which "people have moved over millions of years" ... This is a trip worth taking." --Publishers Weekly
"Leary takes us into the little explored realm of ancient movement. We walk with hominins and Neanderthals, explore deep caves, herd cattle, and become pilgrims, ocean voyagers and long-distance walkers. Leary is a passionate walker, who combines science with his first-hand experience and observation out and about. This beautifully written, entertaining essay melds personal experience with archaeological and historical wisdom. The result is a truly remarkable and original book that thinks profoundly about the past. Read this and be inspired!" --Brian Fagan, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, University of California and author The Little Ice Age

About the Author

Dr Jim Leary is an archaeologist at the University of York and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. He has directed major excavations across Britain, including Silbury Hill in Wiltshire, the largest Neolithic monument in Europe. A passionate walker, much of his research is centred on the way people moved around in the past.