Listen free for 30 days
-
Archaeology - Life in the Trenches
- It Ain't All Golden Masks and Crystal Skulls
- Narrated by: Nick Adams
- Length: 4 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Politics & Social Sciences, Archaeology
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Listen with a free trial
Buy Now for £13.79
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Actually, I'm English
- Rediscovering My Homeland on Foot and by Motorbike
- By: Nick Adams
- Narrated by: Nick Adams
- Length: 5 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Join Nick as he hikes the length of Wales, hitting all the high spots. Then follow him up the spine of England on the Pennine Way, through brutal February weather. Lastly, follow Nick across the North York Moors at night, then on across the country to the Cumbria coast. As if the snow, rain, and endless miles weren’t enough while hiking, jump on the back of the motorbike and ride from Scotland to Devon via Norfolk, dodging hypothermia, then through the Lakes, the Pennines and Wales.
-
-
Good story but decidedly dodgy pronunciation.
- By Ali S. on 21-12-21
-
The Road to Missanabie
- And Other Motorcycle Road Tales
- By: Nick Adams
- Narrated by: Nick Adams
- Length: 4 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Road to Missanabie is Nick Adams' second collection of motorcycling road tales. Join Nick as he heads for the horizon in northern Quebec and northern Ontario on his old Moto Guzzi bikes, enjoying the vastness of the northern forests, the quiet of northern lakes, and the generous and friendly company of the people he meets. Things don't always go according to plan, but unexpected hiccups and delays along the way just add to the adventure. If you enjoy hearing about motorcycle travel, old motorbikes, and the wilderness you're sure to enjoy this.
-
Beyond the Bypass
- Life and Motorcycling After Heart Surgery
- By: Nick Adams
- Narrated by: Nick Adams
- Length: 4 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Despite a lifetime of healthy outdoor activity and a diet no worse (or better, for that matter) than the next man’s, in 2017, at the age of 66, Nick found himself under the knife for triple bypass surgery. Would this be the end to hiking adventures and long motorcycle trips to remote parts? Not a chance! Recovery from open heart surgery is a long, slow process. But with plenty of help, some dedication, lots of careful walking, and heaps of good luck, it is possible to return to a fully active life.
-
Eldorado to the Klondike: Riding Inappropriate Motorcycles to Out-of-the-Way Places
- By: Nick Adams
- Narrated by: Nick Adams
- Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Old or unsuitable motorbikes, distant places, poor weather, and gravel roads, these are the common threads in Nick’s motorcycle travels. He’d been hoping to ride out west a couple of years ago until a little heart trouble intervened. Two years later, a short "shake-down" trip morphed into a 9000 mile journey across the continent. Trouble free? Not exactly. Riding a 1972 Moto Guzzi Eldorado, a Suzuki Burgman Scooter, and a 1976 Moto Guzzi Convert (automatic), and ever optimistic, Nick heads for the Canada’s distant horizons.
-
Beyond the Coffee Shop
- Riding 1970s Moto Guzzi Motorcycles in Northern Canada
- By: Nick Adams
- Narrated by: Nick Adams
- Length: 3 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Canada is blessed with thousands of kilometers of empty roads which seem to wind on forever through forested hills and between still blue lakes. What better way to explore them than by riding 40-year-old Italian motorbikes, famous for their dodgy electrics and sparse dealer network? Forty-year-old bikes, aged rider, thousands of kilometers of virtually unserviced empty roads in the middle of bear-, wolf-, and blackfly-infested wilderness - what could possibly go wrong?
-
-
Beautiful listen,
- By Anonymous User on 16-01-21
-
Lost on Purpose
- The Adventures of a 21st Century Mountain Man, Book 1
- By: Patrick Taylor
- Narrated by: Roger Wayne
- Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lost on Purpose is the nonfiction adventure narrative of a former technology executive who took leave of the real world to reinvent himself as a 21st-century mountain man. In October-November 2013, Patrick Taylor crossed the Rocky Mountains alone on foot. He passed through one of the largest wilderness areas in the lower 48 to reach and retrace the route of Lewis and Clark in the winter. The sacrifices - vocationally, financially, emotionally - are measured against the benefits by the author in a refreshingly honest, humorous, and inspirational fashion.
-
Actually, I'm English
- Rediscovering My Homeland on Foot and by Motorbike
- By: Nick Adams
- Narrated by: Nick Adams
- Length: 5 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Join Nick as he hikes the length of Wales, hitting all the high spots. Then follow him up the spine of England on the Pennine Way, through brutal February weather. Lastly, follow Nick across the North York Moors at night, then on across the country to the Cumbria coast. As if the snow, rain, and endless miles weren’t enough while hiking, jump on the back of the motorbike and ride from Scotland to Devon via Norfolk, dodging hypothermia, then through the Lakes, the Pennines and Wales.
-
-
Good story but decidedly dodgy pronunciation.
- By Ali S. on 21-12-21
-
The Road to Missanabie
- And Other Motorcycle Road Tales
- By: Nick Adams
- Narrated by: Nick Adams
- Length: 4 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Road to Missanabie is Nick Adams' second collection of motorcycling road tales. Join Nick as he heads for the horizon in northern Quebec and northern Ontario on his old Moto Guzzi bikes, enjoying the vastness of the northern forests, the quiet of northern lakes, and the generous and friendly company of the people he meets. Things don't always go according to plan, but unexpected hiccups and delays along the way just add to the adventure. If you enjoy hearing about motorcycle travel, old motorbikes, and the wilderness you're sure to enjoy this.
-
Beyond the Bypass
- Life and Motorcycling After Heart Surgery
- By: Nick Adams
- Narrated by: Nick Adams
- Length: 4 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Despite a lifetime of healthy outdoor activity and a diet no worse (or better, for that matter) than the next man’s, in 2017, at the age of 66, Nick found himself under the knife for triple bypass surgery. Would this be the end to hiking adventures and long motorcycle trips to remote parts? Not a chance! Recovery from open heart surgery is a long, slow process. But with plenty of help, some dedication, lots of careful walking, and heaps of good luck, it is possible to return to a fully active life.
-
Eldorado to the Klondike: Riding Inappropriate Motorcycles to Out-of-the-Way Places
- By: Nick Adams
- Narrated by: Nick Adams
- Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Old or unsuitable motorbikes, distant places, poor weather, and gravel roads, these are the common threads in Nick’s motorcycle travels. He’d been hoping to ride out west a couple of years ago until a little heart trouble intervened. Two years later, a short "shake-down" trip morphed into a 9000 mile journey across the continent. Trouble free? Not exactly. Riding a 1972 Moto Guzzi Eldorado, a Suzuki Burgman Scooter, and a 1976 Moto Guzzi Convert (automatic), and ever optimistic, Nick heads for the Canada’s distant horizons.
-
Beyond the Coffee Shop
- Riding 1970s Moto Guzzi Motorcycles in Northern Canada
- By: Nick Adams
- Narrated by: Nick Adams
- Length: 3 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Canada is blessed with thousands of kilometers of empty roads which seem to wind on forever through forested hills and between still blue lakes. What better way to explore them than by riding 40-year-old Italian motorbikes, famous for their dodgy electrics and sparse dealer network? Forty-year-old bikes, aged rider, thousands of kilometers of virtually unserviced empty roads in the middle of bear-, wolf-, and blackfly-infested wilderness - what could possibly go wrong?
-
-
Beautiful listen,
- By Anonymous User on 16-01-21
-
Lost on Purpose
- The Adventures of a 21st Century Mountain Man, Book 1
- By: Patrick Taylor
- Narrated by: Roger Wayne
- Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lost on Purpose is the nonfiction adventure narrative of a former technology executive who took leave of the real world to reinvent himself as a 21st-century mountain man. In October-November 2013, Patrick Taylor crossed the Rocky Mountains alone on foot. He passed through one of the largest wilderness areas in the lower 48 to reach and retrace the route of Lewis and Clark in the winter. The sacrifices - vocationally, financially, emotionally - are measured against the benefits by the author in a refreshingly honest, humorous, and inspirational fashion.
-
Raven's Witness
- The Alaska Life of Richard K. Nelson
- By: Hank Lentfer, Barry Lopez - foreword
- Narrated by: Basil Sands
- Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Raven's Witness, Lentfer tells Nelson's story - from his midwestern childhood to his first experiences with Native culture in Alaska through his own lifelong passion for the land where he so belonged. Nelson was the author of the best-selling The Island Within and Heart and Blood. The recipient of multiple honorary degrees and numerous literary awards, he regularly packed auditoriums when he spoke. His depth of experience allowed him to become an intermediary between worlds. This is his story.
-
-
Captures the pleasure of natural human experience
- By Christopher B. on 27-12-20
-
Alaska Challenge
- A Journey Through Uncharted Wilderness Leading to a New Life in a New Land
- By: Ruth Albee, Bill Albee, Lyman Anson
- Narrated by: Lyle Blaker
- Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Having grown weary with the day-to-day existence that is expected of young students, Bill and Ruth come up with the plan to head to Alaska - exploring the large blank space on the map that is Western British Columbia along the way. And in so doing they'll study firsthand the native culture and peoples of the North - a far better method of study in their estimation!
-
The Archipelago of Hope
- Wisdom and Resilience from the Edge of Climate Change
- By: Gleb Raygorodetsky
- Narrated by: Keith Sellon-Wright
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One cannot turn on the news today without a report on an extreme-weather event or the latest update on Antarctica. But while our politicians argue, the truth is that climate change is already here. Nobody knows this better than Indigenous peoples, who, having developed an intimate relationship with ecosystems over generations, have observed these changes for decades. For them, climate change is not an abstract concept or policy issue, but the reality of daily life.
-
-
Sad but hopeful and oh so fascinating
- By JPA on 15-03-21
-
Vodka & Sandstorms
- What Is Life but One Big Adventure
- By: Luke Richmond
- Narrated by: Luke Richmond
- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Adventurer, B.A.S.E jumper, endurance athlete, and writer, Luke Richmond is a man on a mission: to cram as much living into his lifetime as humanly possible. As an overweight and bullied youth, he seemed destined to be the underdog, but fought back until his tormentors were cast aside. From the Australian outback, to climbing some of the biggest mountains on earth, to rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, his enthusiasm and passion for adventure is infectious.
-
-
Amazing people
- By samantha dunford on 16-01-21
-
The Curve of Time
- By: M. Wylie Blanchet
- Narrated by: Heather Henderson
- Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At a time when Vancouver Island was still an extremely remote and sparsely populated backwater, a young widow packed her five children into a 25-foot boat dubbed The Caprice and set off on an adventure. Summer after summer the brave young mother, who became known as "Capi," would set sail and explore the rugged coastline for months with her young crew. Although the hazards the family faced were numerous-tides, fog, storms, rapids, cougars, and even grizzlies-Capi brought them through it all.
-
Down Under in the Top End
- Penelope Heads North
- By: Tim Bowden
- Narrated by: Tim Bowden
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tim Bowden takes us on one of the world's greatest road trips, from Australia's east coast to the Top End and into the heart of the outback. Told with wry humor, an infectious enthusiasm for history, and a nose for finding great stories, Tim lays bare the hardships of bush life and celebrates the joys and freedoms of being on the road.
-
Tales from the Tillerman
- A Life-long Love Affair with Britain's Waterways
- By: Steve Haywood
- Narrated by: Steve Haywood
- Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Steve Haywood has been cruising the inland waterways for 50 years, and has amassed a following of readers and listeners keen to hear about his travelling tales on Britain’s beautiful canals and rivers. Tales from the Tillerman is both his tribute to Britain’s canals, rivers and countryside and a celebration of Britishness in all its eccentric glory. Unlike Steve’s previous titles, Tales from the Tillerman is casting the net wider and drawing from his full 50 years of experience, recounting the many hair-raising escapades he’s had up and down the country.
-
-
A great modern inland voyage
- By paul adams on 06-12-21
-
The Great Quake
- How the Biggest Earthquake in North America Changed Our Understanding of the Planet
- By: Henry Fountain
- Narrated by: Robert Fass
- Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A riveting narrative about the biggest earthquake in North American recorded history - the 1964 Alaska earthquake that demolished the city of Valdez and swept away the island village of Chenega - and the geologist who hunted for clues to explain how and why it took place.
-
Tip of the Iceberg
- My 3,000-Mile Journey Around Wild Alaska, the Last Great American Frontier
- By: Mark Adams
- Narrated by: Mark Adams
- Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1899, railroad magnate Edward H. Harriman organized a most unusual summer voyage to the wilds of Alaska: He converted a steamship into a luxury "floating university", populated by some of America's best and brightest scientists and writers, including the anti-capitalist eco-prophet, John Muir. Armed with Dramamine and an industrial-strength mosquito net, Mark Adams sets out to retrace the 1899 expedition. Using the state's intricate public ferry system, the Alaska Marine Highway System, Adams travels 3,000 miles.
-
Disappointment River
- Finding and Losing the Northwest Passage
- By: Brian Castner
- Narrated by: Brian Castner
- Length: 12 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Disappointment River is a dual historical narrative and travel memoir that at once transports listeners back to the heroic age of North American exploration and places them in a still rugged but increasingly fragile Arctic wilderness in the process of profound alteration by the dual forces of energy extraction and climate change.
-
Atlas of a Lost World
- By: Craig Childs
- Narrated by: Craig Childs
- Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the author of Apocalyptic Planet, an unsparing, vivid, revelatory travelogue through prehistory that traces the arrival of the First People in North America 20,000 years ago and the artifacts that enable us to imagine their lives and fates. This book upends our notions of where these people came from and who they were.
-
-
amazing
- By Anonymous User on 19-01-22
-
The Amazon from Source to Sea
- The Farthest Journey Down the World's Longest River
- By: West Hansen
- Narrated by: West Hansen
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fifty-year-old canoe racer-turned-explorer West Hansen is planning to kayak the Amazon River when he learns that everyone - cartographers, adventurers, even his own sponsor, National Geographic Society - has misplaced the source of the world's greatest river. One of exploration's great prizes is suddenly back up for grabs, and to claim it all, Hansen has to shepherd a team of irascible Texans and international whitewater stars some 4,200 miles, from the crest of the Peruvian Andes to the Atlantic Ocean.
Summary
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.
More from the same
What listeners say about Archaeology - Life in the Trenches
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Pat Glennon
- 21-07-20
Disappointing
This is a series of cobbled together life stories and there is very little archaeology in here.