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Cover of BENEATH OUR FEET
4.89

Based on 9 Goodreads ratings

BENEATH OUR FEET

by the BBC TV series Digging for Britain, which describes the exploits of two English hobbyists who scour the countryside with their metal detectors. Readers will not regret looking it up. Organic objects decay (mostly)\u003B stone and bone survive\u003B metals are a mixed bag. Amateur searchers, with or without detectors, find bottle caps, discarded toys, and metal scraps. Less often, items from distant times turn up—buttons, bullets, arrowheads, coins, jewelry, tools, and weapons. Almost no one finds a treasure trove or “hoard,” but “almost no one” among thousands of searchers produces a steady stream of bonanzas that will dazzle readers poring over the hundreds of crisp images. People on this island seemed to love burying stuff, and even Stone Age inhabitants had a taste for gold and knew what to do with it. Gold does not decompose, but it’s an exception, and most of the text describes efforts to find, extract, clean, reassemble, decipher, and interpret long\u002Dburied relics. Despite the lovely images, this book alone should not be anyone’s introduction to prehistoric Britain. The authors deliver a short summary of the era at the beginning of each chapter but stay focused on the objects themselves: the finders’ experience as well as that of the landowners. Rich hoards have sold for immense sums to private collectors, but precious metals and “treasures” belong to the nation, and public\u002Dspirited owners donate what they find."

Book Details

Publisher:Of
Published:2024-01-01
Pages:276
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9780500027

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This engaging exploration of soil science and earth systems reveals the complex world hidden just below the surface, transforming ordinary ground into a landscape teeming with life, geological proces...

Our Review

This engaging exploration of soil science and earth systems reveals the complex world hidden just below the surface, transforming ordinary ground into a landscape teeming with life, geological processes, and ecological connections. Young readers will discover the intricate layers of the earth, from topsoil to bedrock, and meet the diverse organisms—from earthworms and fungi to microscopic bacteria—that create this vital, living system. The book masterfully connects underground phenomena like rock cycles and water filtration to the larger environmental picture, making earth science feel immediate and relevant.

What sets this geology guide apart is its compelling presentation of how soil health directly impacts our world, from the food we eat to the air we breathe, framing environmental stewardship as an urgent and fascinating detective story. Budding ecologists and curious kids who love hands-on exploration will be captivated by the clear explanations of nutrient cycles, decomposition, and the surprising science of dirt. This is the kind of science writing that doesn't just inform but fundamentally changes how readers see the ground they walk on every day.

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