Manure Matters Historical, Archaeological and Ethnographic Perspectives

'This is a topic that richly deserves detailed consideration of this sort since it is relevant to all agrarian regimens, and is a rich subject for comparative work. As the authors show, unlike many aspects of agrarian history manuring practices leave archaeological, documentary, and literary evidence. It will be a valuable source of reference, as well as a stimulus to archaeologists and historians to think more deeply about this vital topic.' Richard Britnell, University of Durham, UK '... Manure Matters offers important starting points to further discussion and to direct future research.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review '... I found parts of this collection of academic essays by different authors absolutely fascinating - and even a reader without my special interest would, I think, also do so... you mightn't think a book about the history of manure is to your taste - but you might be surprised if you have an interest in social history.' Blogcritics '... it is extremely useful to have such a range of topics from several academic disciplines within a single volume. [...] Manure Matters serves to remind us that manuring sits at the heart of sustainable agriculture and that archaeology provides an ideal long-term evidence base for such investigations.' Antiquity '... Richard Jones is to be congratulated on making a compelling case for the fertility of this field.' Medieval Settlement Research