Ancestors: A prehistory of Britain in seven burials by Alice Roberts

Ancestors: A Prehistory of Britain in Seven Burials

We often think of British history beginning with the Romans—an invasion that suddenly brought civilization to an empty island. But the truth is far more complex, far more moving, and written in the earth beneath our feet. In Ancestors, pre-eminent archaeologist, broadcaster, and academic Professor Alice Roberts leads us to seven extraordinary burial sites across Britain, each one a portal into the lives of the people who came before us.

Using cutting-edge genetic technology and archaeological discovery, Roberts reconstructs the intimate stories of our earliest ancestors: how they journeyed across continents, how they migrated and settled, how they loved and died. She traces the forgotten pathways of ancient peoples, migrations written into our genes and preserved in burial grounds for thousands of years. Each grave becomes a window into the human experience—journeys of belonging, loss, adaptation, and survival that echo through millennia.

At 448 pages, beautifully illustrated with black-and-white archaeological imagery, Ancestors is a groundbreaking prehistory that teaches us about ourselves by reaching back through time. It explores what connects us not only to our past, but to one another across the globe—the shared humanity that binds all peoples together. A book about walking in ancient places, standing in the footsteps of those who came before, and discovering where we truly belong in the world. As Bettany Hughes writes, it's "terrific, timely and transporting"—reaching beyond history to touch the fascinating truth of who we are.