Skara Brae A Pictish Village in Orkney by V Gordon Childe, T H Bryce, D M S Watson - 1931

London : Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., Ltd, 1931 A very good copy of Professor V Gordon Childe's account of the final excavation and conservation of Skara Brae at Skaill in Orkney. The original excavation in the mid 1800's after the site was revealed by a storm, was undertaken before there was an understanding that there should be a methodical and systematic approach with comprehensive recording. There has been further small excavations but the site was then left open and there was further damage from a storm in 1924. The site was put under the guardianship of H M Commissioners of Works in 1924 and over the next few years, the site was re- excavated and then conserved. This book gives a full account and is supplemented by papers on the human remains and animal bones. It is profusely illustrated and has 60 photographic plates, a colour map, and 2 sections at the rear. The brown cloth binding is in good clean condition with light spotting to the front board, a slight nick to the side of the spine and slight scuffing to the back board. Contents: half title, title, preface, contents, illustration list pp xiii; text 208pp including index; photographic plates, map and sections to rear. Contents in very good clean condition with light toning to margins and a little light spotting to the end index leaves.