Archaeology - Life in the Trenches

It Ain't All Golden Masks and Crystal Skulls

By: Nick Adams

Narrated by: Nick Adams

Archaeology is a beguiling occupation. Who wouldn't be attracted to finding cool, old stuff buried in the ground? It appeals to the child in us all.

But archaeology isn’t all gold masks, crystal skulls and temples. Often it’s chert flakes on a lake shore, burials in the forgotten corner of a field, or pioneer dwellings in the woods.

Sometimes, it just isn’t all that glamorous.

The reality is that for every well-known archaeologist - the kind you might see doing exciting things on TV - there are legions of less high-profile characters working in the background. Their work may not be quite as sexy or result in paradigm-changing discoveries, but it is important and valuable.

The following chapters are snapshots of archaeology from more than 40 years of work in both Britain and Canada. Rather than spending too much time on the scientific and technical, Nick has focused on stories that convey the life of a working archaeologist...well, his working life anyway.

The stories include:

• His early life in archaeology in the UK on projects ranging from Anglo-Saxon burials to Romano-British settlements
• Working as a government archaeologist for the province of Ontario, in the northern wilderness
• Life as a contract archaeologist

Nick's stories are full of humor, a reverence for the natural world, and a respect for the lives of those who have gone before. There are no golden masks or crystal skulls here, but there is plenty of value.

©2016 Nicholas Robert Adams (P)2020 Nicholas Robert Adams

Who Knew Archaeology Could Be This Much Fun?

The fool I once was—I’ll admit it—I put this one off. I’d read all of Nick Adams’s travel books at least twice over the past couple of years, but I couldn’t imagine what a book about archaeology could possibly have to do with motorcycles or back-road adventures. Turns out, it doesn’t—and yet it has everything to do with passion, curiosity, and the winding path of a life well-lived. It’s a reminder that you never really know where the road—or the dig—will take you.

So inevitably, I came around. And boy, am I glad I did.

This isn’t just about unearthing artifacts; it’s an autobiography told through the lens of a working life. And like all of Nick’s writing, it’s full of humor, reflection, and that steady, good-natured, English-weathered timbre that makes you feel like you’re sitting across from him, swapping tales over coffee.

Without this book as a reference point, you’re missing a big piece of who Nick is. It’s engaging, funny, and quietly moving—a grounded walk through his world, minus the gold masks and crystal skulls.