Ten Discoveries That Rewrote History

by Patrick Hunt

Book Overview

The world's greatest archaeological finds and what they tell us about lost civilizations Renowned archaeologist Patrick Hunt brings his top ten list of ancient archaeological discoveries to life in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452288770
• ISBN13: 9780452288775
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.8" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

informative and entertaining!

Like any top-ten list, it's always hard to pick and choose with out leaving out pertinent pieces and personal favorites. But, in Ten Discoveries that Rewrote History, Patrick Hunt brilliantly illustrates what he has determined are the keystones of archaeology's major contributions the historical understanding of ancient global cultures. His writing style is engaging and each chapter wrought with historical references reads like an adventure story. The Author's rich knowledge and experience shines through in this book. I imagine all of his courses fill up rather quickly at Stanford...

great fun for armchair archeologists

Part history, part suspense, part adventure and travel, Ten Discoveries That Rewrote History by Patrick Hunt is a concise, well-written, and engrossing read. The archeological discoveries that it covers include the ruins of Pompeii and Troy, the Rosetta Stone, the Olduvai Gorge, Machu Picchu, the Tomb of 10,000 Warriors, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Thera, possible location of the lost city of Atlantis. The wonders found at these sites all changed the way we understand history, and most of the sites themselves are still being excavated and studied. But that's only part of the story -- the greatest suspense of these archeological treasures was the intrigue and adventure surrounding their re-discovery after being hidden for centuries. With tales worthy of Indiana Jones and James Bond, this book is great fun for armchair archeologists.

Terrific, readable archaeology book

I just finished reading "Ten Discoveries that Rewrote History", by Patrick Hunt. This is a terrific book that is very readable yet provides great insight into some of the most important archaeological discoveries of all times (e.g., Rosetta Stone, Troy, Nineveh Library, King Tut's Tomb, Machu Picchu, Pompeii, Dead Sea Scrolls, Thera/Santorini/Atlantis, Olduvai Gorge, and the Terra Cotta Warriors in China). Besides giving the basics on the digs and their history, Prof. Hunt provides hard to find information on the people involved as well as the importance of the digs to archaeology and society. I especially enjoyed the anecdotes whereby he describes his own personal experiences (e.g., becoming an "amauta" (high priest) by playing his flute at Machu Picchu). This book will appeal to history buffs as well as to travelers going to the areas described, and I think it should be required reading for all college students.

Fascinating Read Combining Archaeology and History

I am fortuante that I have been able to attend the course that Dr. Hunt taught on this subject a few summers back and I am thrilled to see the same subject come out in print. Dr. Hunt's expertise in archaeology and history is clearly demonstrated in this precious collection of ten well known archaeological sites. His writing style and ability to bring to light the most interesting facts about each discovery left me feeling that I wanted to visit each site in person. His prose is easy to read and follow, yet not at all over simplified. This is a huge benefit to me, since I have neither the technical nor scientific background to comprehend an overly academic treatment of the same subject matter. For those who wish to read more about each site, the selected bibliography included at the end of the book provides a helpful starting point. Overall, a wonderful read - I do hope he is able to do the same with other fascinating discoveries that combine his knowledge of archaeology and history.

An outstanding and engaging read

Several years ago, my high school age sister rushed through the Louvre, sought out a laundry list of masterpieces and then checked them off as she viewed each one. As an accounting exercise, it was quite satisfying as she now has a piece of paper evidencing that she had physically seen each work of art. As an exercise in art appreciation it left a lot to be desired. Fortunately, when Patrick Hunt wrote Ten Discoveries that Rewrote History, he brought to the project not just the completeness and accuracy of an accountant but also the sensibility of the well-renowned archaeologist and excellent story teller that he is. Hunt knows his subject inside out and there is probably not better authority on the landmarks he has chosen to write about. More importantly, however, is that he makes the discoveries come to life. Hunt starts each chapter with a description of the discovery then describes in detail the excavation of the landmark. He then weaves the historical, cultural, and political implications of the discovery into his narrative, thus giving his readers a well-rounded view of some of the most well known wonders in the span of less than 25 pages. Patrick Hunt excels at capturing the sentiments of both the creators and the discoverers of each featured item. The vivid descriptions make the reader feel as if he is situated in the time period and watching each story unfold before his/her eyes. It is also evident that Patrick Hunt shares in the awe of the grandeur and splendor of these amazing discoveries and through the strength of his writing is able to transfer that same excitement and awe to his audience. Informative, yet entertaining, the book appeals to readers of all ages and will surely entice all to experience the discoveries first hand.