New Book Chronicle

Recent studies highlight the significance of marginal regions as zones of contact, change, and innovation, challenging traditional center-periphery narratives. A review of four books explores diverse perspectives on life at the margins, from political strategies in peripheral societies to unique Bronze Age burials and early Christian asceticism. Notably, Skellig Michael, a remote UNESCO World Heritage Site off Ireland's coast, is examined as a crucible for spirituality and isolation, reflecting broader human desires for reflective solitude amid modern connectivity. These works suggest that marginal spaces, often overlooked, serve as crucial arenas for cultural exchange and the development of new ideas.

Uckelmann, M. (2024). New Book Chronicle. Antiquity, 98(397), 282–293. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2024.7