Welsh Journals

In recent years scores of scholars have organised, or contributed to, enterprises designed to make available to historians detailed biographical information about the individuals, men and women, whose efforts have been responsible for the evolution of our institutions, governments, professions and society in the classical, mediaeval and modern West. The new DICTIONNAIRE DES AUTEURS CISTERCIENS, published under the direction of E. Brouette, A. Dimier and E. Manning for the distinguished series, La Documentation Cistercienne, represents a similar prosopo- graphical study of one major element in the Cistercian genius. When complete, this Dictionary (vol. 1, fasc. 1, Rochefort, Belgium; Pp. xvi, col. 72; 1975) will catalogue the intellectual and religious literary achieve- ments of men and women of the Cistercian Order from its foundation in the eleventh century to our own day. Astronomers, mathematicians and hagiographers, as well as scholastics and humanists, will have their place, and the expectation is that more than 3,000 Cistercians will eventually be recorded, together with the salient events of their life and a list of their works, with some comment on their content and significance. To this first fascicule (Abarca de Bolera-Azorites) nine collaborators from several parts of Europe have contributed, in addition to the three editors, and their biographical notes (including the longest, on Aelred of Rievault) are succinct, well written and supported by bibliographical references; the lay-out of the pages makes for easy use. This enterprise will eventually prove an accurate and authoritative reflection of the changing spirit of Cistercianism. For students of Welsh archaeology, not to mention Dark Age and early medieval history, genealogy, heraldry, folklore and toponymy and many other fields, Archaeologia Cambrensis has for generations been an institu- tion, the indispensable learned journal. In 1964 there was published an index for the journal for the years 1846 to 1900. Now, compiled by T. Rowland Powel of the Society of Indexers with lists and notes by the archaeologist, Donald Moore, there has appeared Index to Archaeologia Cambrensis, 1901-1960 (Cambrian Archaeological Association, Cardiff, 1976. Pp. 313). The price is £ 2.50 for members and non-members of the Association alike, with a limited number of special copies available at £ 3.25. In addition to a superb and comprehensive Index, beautifully laid out and a model of its kind, this volume also helpfully lists the officers, conferences and special publications of the Association since 1900. This vital aid for Welsh historians is available from the Librarian, The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth SY23 3BU, from whom back numbers of the journal and special publications can also be obtained. Also received from Penguin Books: Colin Renfrew, Before Civilization (Penguin Books Ltd., 1976. Pp. 318; plates 14; figs. 58. Paperback, £ 1.10). This important work consists, in effect, of two parts. The first discusses the impact of radio-carbon dating