X Marks The Spot

Delve into deserts, jungles, and gorges to uncover the history of archaeology in eight adventurous stories of discovery. Learn about the eclectic mix of pioneering scientists, historians, invading armies, explorers, and more, for whom discovery of the human past was just the beginning of a greater adventure as the finds themselves also took on a storied history. A globe-trotting and enthralling history by Professor Michael Scott (b.1981), spans millennia of human history to recount the tales of eight great discoveries. From the discovery of the Rosetta Stone by Napoleon’s army expedition in 1799; to the 1980s-90s dives to study the bronze-age Uluburun shipwreck in the Mediterranean; via ‘lost’ cities in Peru; ancient Chinese scrolls in the Taklamakan Desert; and the 3.8 million-year-old Laetoli Footprints of our human ancestors discovered in Tanzania. Each chapter charts the history of the finds and the evolving expertise of the teams who have since visited and studied the sites, while also reflecting upon how the discoveries themselves have shaped the archaeological experience and our understanding on mankind. Published in 2023, the book is printed with the original selling price of £12.99.

Paperback
19.5 x 12.5cm
304 pages
Plate section illustrated with 14 colour and 7 black-and-white photographs; plus 8 black-and-white maps
Sustainably sourced paper