Humans have been fascinated by their own history for thousands of years. Digging up the past by excavating ancient sites, discovering artefacts of a bygone era and analysing biofacts help us to learn about the lifestyles of our ancestors and understand where we come from. Without the crucial work performed by archeologists we wouldn’t have such a wealth of information on the life and times of the Romans, the Ancient Greeks, the Ancient Egyptians or the Vikings. The Book of Archaeology celebrates this integral discipline from its humble, amateur beginnings through to a professional expertise, its most important global discoveries – like Pompeii, Tutankhamen’s tomb and Richard III’s grave – and what we have learned from them, as well as how archeologists use cutting edge modern day science to unearth, preserve and conserve history for future generations.
WELCOME
What is ARCHAEOLOGY? • It’s more than just digging and putting things in museum cases… archaeology tells the full story of humanity
Archaeology THROUGH TIME • From ancient Babylonian kings and stories of dragons, to carbon dating and MRI machines, the history of archaeology is a long and strange story
Heritage HEROES • From trailblazing historians to preservation pioneers, here are just a few of the ladies and gentlemen who have helped shape archaeology into what we know today
15 MORE NAMES YOU NEED TO KNOW! • These archaeologists and archaeology advocates changed how we think about history
The SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY of Archaeology • Discover how modern archaeology employs a wide range of scientific methods and groundbreaking technology to uncover the past and decipher its mysteries
HOW TO EXCAVATE AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
The Enduring Appeal of TREASURE HUNTING • Amateur history buffs and treasure hunters gave rise to archaeology, and they are still helping the cause in the form of metal detectorists
Curse of the BOY KING • The story of how a single discovery and one man’s determination led an unknown boy king to become the symbol of Egyptology the world over
INSIDE THE TOMB • Step inside the various rooms and vaults that were found to be contained within the boy king’s tomb
MACHU PICCHU The city in the sky • How one of the world’s most mysterious historical sites came to be, and then fell to ruin
AN INCA HOME • The yanacona of Machu Picchu lived in simple houses that often had just one room
Rediscovering POMPEII • An entire town was wiped off the map almost 2,000 years ago – so how did we find it again?
PRESERVING POMPEII • Looking after a city that’s over 2,000 years old is far from an easy task
POMPEII CASTS • Discover how the victims of the volcanic eruption have been preserved
Grave of the GRIFFIN WARRIOR • The discovery of the treasure-filled grave of a warrior buried in Greece 3,500 years ago continues to astonish archaeologists
SECRETS FROM ANCIENT CHINA • In the 1970s, five men digging a well made a startling discovery that transformed our understanding of China’s history and the brutal events of 2,000 years ago…
Rediscovering TENOCHTITLÁN • Dig up Mexico City’s Aztec past with the archaeologists who have made stunning discoveries over the past few decades
Shining a Light on the DARK AGES • The 1939 excavation at Sutton Hoo revealed the elaborate burial of a once mighty king, changing perceptions that Anglo-Saxon England was void of art and culture
The Mary ROSE • In the murky depths of the Solent, Henry VIII’s beloved ship lay waiting for 437 years
Finding the KING in the CAR PARK • Uncover how the search for Richard III’s body resulted in a groundbreaking discovery
WORLD WONDERS You Need to Discover • Follow...