English Heritage Book of Shrines and Sacrifice (English Heritage S.) - Hardcover

Based on new findings over the last 40 years, this book explores the ritualistic and cultic practices in Britain during the transitional period between paganism and early Christianity. A major theme running through the book is the continuity, or otherwise, between the cult sites, symbolism and rituals of the different periods: Iron Age, Roman and post-Roman. In the last 40 years, shrines at Lydney, South Cadbury, Uley, Bath and Maiden Castle and the great Roman cemeteries outside Winchester and Dorchester, have been excavated, together with a great number of other religious sites dating from the Iron Age, Roman and post-Roman periods. The new information they provide is analyzed in detail - the style of cult buildings, deities worshipped, ritual practices, offerings and sacrifices. The author examines points of continuity between the Celtic religion and early Christianity.