Neil Ewins' study of the Staffordshire potteries in a period of great global change traces how ceramics production has been affected by globalisation in both familiar and unexpected ways. Although many manufacturers such as Wedgwood initially moved production to cheaper labour markets in East Asia, others remained in or returned to England once it became clear that outsourcing manufacturing was affecting the brand value and customer perception of their products. Neil Ewins explores the complex behaviour of the UK ceramics industry, using a combination of evidence from the press, trade journals, ceramic objects, and primary interview evidence of manufacturers, retailers and a ceramic designer. Ewins suggests that, although the surface designs of UK ceramics invariably reflect diverse cultural and stylistic influences, a notion of authenticity often still resides in the place and context in which the ceramic product was originally made. Overall, the book argues that UK ceramics remain culturally complex because of issues of supply and demand, and ties to heritage, imagined or otherwise. Within a context of globalization, the book highlights compelling issues which have huge ramifications on UK manufacturing futures.

In the fall of 1989, the Archaeological and Historical Research Institute (AHRI) entered into negotiations with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to establish a five-year field school at Fort Craig beginning in June of 1990. The project was designed to serve a number of purposes: (a) to operate an archaeological field school for the training of students and the interested public; (b) to assess the nature and extent of cultural resources at the site and to serve as a guide for any future research that may be undertaken; and (c) to establish a foundation for the BLM's public interpretation program at the site. The five seasons of fieldwork were conducted from 1990 to 1994 during the summer and fall. This report describes the results of the archaeological excavations and historical records search conducted by the AHRI at the Fort Craig National Historic site.