Sacred Land

Reveals the hidden secrets and meaning of the landscape of Britain and will help you see your surroundings in a new light. The British landscape has extraordinary stories to tell, if you know how to read themIn Sacred Land, Martin Palmer takes you on a unique journey through England, Scotland and Wales. From long barrows and stone circles to the design of towns and churches, our landscape reflects how the people of Britain once believed themselves - and all they created - to be part of a greater, more sacred story. This fascinating book helps you to understand how those beliefs have shaped, and continue to shape, our world - and how you can unravel those stories in the landscape and buildings around you.Discover:The four great stories that have shaped Britain's landscape over the past 7000 years - and how to uncover the traces of them in your local area. How the countryside reveals its ancient past through its fields, farms and villages.Why many of the rivers in Britain are named after the same goddesses as rivers in India.The auspicious directions which have shaped the layout of almost all British towns and cities.What churches and graveyards reveal about changing beliefs over the centuries. Packed with information and insights, and a gazetteer of places to visit, Sacred Land is a lively, practical guide to reading the landscape around you, wherever you live in Britain. A Piatkus OriginalHistory978 0 7499 5292 1­ SACRED LAND will enable you to discover the hidden secrets and meaning of the landscape around you, town or country, modern or old, wherever you live in Britain. There has been a dramatic growth in interest in our own history, buildings, landscape, sacred places, beliefs and culture over the last few years and this book will equip you with the tools to unlock the meaning, stories and history that are literally embedded in our landscape. It takes us from street names to churches; from hill forts to burial mounds; from the way a road bends to the shapes of fields in order to understand better the land that lies beneath our feet. In the literal shape of our countryside can be detected the eddies of time, politics, belief, warfare, passion and the durability of the human existence.SACRED LAND is a fascinating, accessible read and the perfect reference guide to have in your home or in your car. It will be of interest to everyone who loves history, sacred places and sacred history, and those who like to explore their ancestry and roots.