Ancient Shetland

The latest addition to the valuable series issued by Batsford and Historic Scotland proclaims its subject boldly on the cover, which unmistakably depicts the Broch of Mousa, Shetland’s most spectacular ancient monument. Though the title is Ancient Shetland, the author in fact carries her subject up to the early mediaeval period. As Shetland’s resident archaeologist, she is well qualified to write an account of it for the general reader, especially as she has had access to a great deal of the unpublished work which is gradually improving our knowledge of the islands. As she remarks, this is not merely...