Born in 1947 Richard Morris grew up in Birmingham and studied English at Oxford. He began his career in archaeology as a member of the team excavating under York Minster in 1971. In the 1990s he was director of the Council of British Archaeology, where he helped to launch the popular magazine BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGY. He has taught at the universities of York, Leeds and Huddersfield. He is a Frend Medallist of the Society of Antiquaries of London. In 2003 was appointed OBE for services to archaeology. His interests in churches, settlement, historical topography, cultural history and aviation are reflected in many essays, articles and books. He lives in Yorkshire.
This is a remarkable, and in many respects a very courageous book - he puts himself on the line -- Francis Pryor THE TIMES For Morris, this book is an 'expedition' into the past, and as such it is both expansive and singular. But TIME'S ANVIL is also an impassioned history and defence of archeology, a history of humanity in England, and a heartfelt meditation on transience and mortality -- Nick Groom INDEPENDENT [An] undeniably curious book...the story of archeology, mixed with the author's personal and family history, and interspersed with a smattering of scientific discourse, and a fair bit of poetry BBC HISTORY I should have told you about this superb piece of work months ago... It is a wonderful reminder of the extent of human knowledge and how little we can know about our own past. It is possible to hold a Saxon's helmet in your hand but you can't hear the man who wore it speak. This is a wise book, worth the investment. -- Thomas Quinn THE BIG ISSUE This fascinating book - a combination of the author's autobiography and a biography of the science of archaeology in England since the 17th century - suggests that some historical truths are found and proved, rather than created, by archaeology -- Dr Julian Litten CHURCH TIMES Combining literature and myth with science, it explores how the past is read and the relevance and role of archaeology while challenging assumptions about our history CHOICE A richly textured, and very moving, hybrid of a book: silted, layered, as studded with jewels as the mud around an Anglo-Saxon tomb. The ground beneath your feet - or the keepsakes cleared from a relative's home - will never feel the same again, Boyd Tonkin, INDEPENDENT This book allows us to regain possession and to make archeology personal again. THE TIMES 20131116 He makes the point that history is always changing, as we find new things, or come to see old things in new ways. A thoughtful book, intelligent book. -- William Leith THE SCOTSMAN 20140104