ABSTRACT
Many people become archaeologists to live their lives at one end of shovel – to enjoy the open air, find things and chat about them. Writing does not come easy, and they remember at school (and university) sitting in front of a set essay topic wishing it would go away, much as an earlier generation sat in front of a cold school dinner. Writing a synthesis need not be like that (at least not the way I do it). It is exciting and pleasurable, although it does need work.
