The two volumes reviewed here are the first of the three promised from NAA reporting on the archaeological work undertaken during the improvement of the A1 road from Leeming to Barton. Death, Burial and Identity (henceforth DBI) reports on the burials from the whole of this stretch of the road scheme, whilst Contact, Concord and Conquest (henceforth CCC) provides a full account of the excavations on the major late Iron Age–early Roman complex at Scotch Corner as well as several smaller sites of similar date (at Woodside, Gatherley Villa, and Selgrath Farm) between there and Catterick. (The third volume will report on the work on the settlement at Catterick.) The project has provided an enormous wealth of new archaeological information – indeed, it can truly be said that the material from Scotch Corner has completely transformed knowledge of the region in the late Iron Age and early Roman period. It should be said at the outset that these volumes are landmark studies and the authors, contributors and editors should be warmly congratulated for their efforts. Those with an interest in the archaeology of this region, or in either period nationally, will need to refer to these publications for years to come and they will be rewarded by a rich harvest of detailed evidence and ideas. In this review I draw attention to some of the key contents of the two volumes as well as raising a number of points for debate. In doing this, in no way do I wish to question the quality of the work presented. Rather, the fact that a reader is able to explore alternative perspectives is a tribute to the project team.