Antiquaries and Archaists : The Past in the Past, the Past in the Present

This book explores the ever-changing view of the past, from Saxon times to the present day, from the British Isles to modern-day China - how the Middle Ages populated ancient sites with dragons and elves; how people responded to the historic landscape many centuries ago; how the landscapes and buildings of the past came to be interpreted and codified by the great antiquarians William Stukeley and Thomas Rickman.

The modern perception and appreciation of the past is seen through the rise of antiquarianism in Japan; the founding of the Church Monuments Society in Britain; the way modern pagans have rediscovered mystery and magic in ancient sites; and how a Chinese woodblock printer has subtly reworked traditional techniques and motifs into contemporary settings.