1 comments about Pottery in Archaeology (Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology).

1. orton and friends take the reader through all the aspects of the most common archaeological find: the pot sherd. at the end, you will know how to classify any random bit of ceramic you come across.

   the book is very well written; it's amazing how the rather dry subject comes alive. very much a "practical knowledge" sort of read.

   every serious dig should have one in their field house.

5 comments about The Lost Civilizations of the Stone Age.

1. By bringing together evidence from archaeology, ancient history, linguistics and anthropology, the author convincingly demonstrates that the inventions, achievements and discoveries of prehistoric times have all but been edited out of popular accounts of human history. He describes how stone age explorers discovered all the world's land masses, presents strong evidence for writing before 5000BC and for mathematical, medical and astronomical science as well as tool-making and mining long before the Sumerians. Tracing the human story from the cusp of history back to the earliest known artefacts, he shows that the making of rugs, dental drilling and accountancy among others, were all known in the Neolithic. But not only that - the other "ideological wall" placed at about 40 000BC is also being shown up to be highly dubious as many anomalous cases of earlier symbolic and artistic activities are coming to light. I found the section on language of particular interest and would like to refer interested readers to the work of linguists like Dr. Joseph Greenberg (Language In The Americas, Indo-European and its Closest Relatives: The Eurasiatic Language Family), Merritt Ruhlen (On The Origin Of Languages: Studies In Linguistic Taxonomy), Alan Bomhard (Indo-European and the Nostratic Hypothesis ) and Sydney M. Lamb (Sprung From Some Common Source), all available here on amazon.com. Lost Civilisations Of The Stone Age is lavishly illustrated with figures, plates and a map of language families, and there's an extensive bibliography and index. A well-researched, well-written book that sometimes perhaps goes into too much technical detail for the casual reader, but always remains thought-provoking.



2. I liked the idea behind this book and the first chapter seemed promising but somewhere along the way it faded as its emphasis faded from a book for the general population to one that can only be enjoyed, or understood, by professionals. For some reason many professionals, historians, palaeontologists, and the like, seem to believe that, before writing, that almost nothing of consequence was invented. Instead, these parties feel that there was an "explosion" of knowledge about 5000 years ago. This explosion is sometimes hard to explain.

   Enter the UFO freaks. There is a cottage industry of parties, like Erich Van Daniken, that try to explain these matters by stating that this explosion occurred because knowledge was given to man from "supermen" of Atlantis or aliens from outer space. By showing how much of man's knowledge was developed thousands of years ago, the need for aliens dies, because there was no knowledge explosion. Van Daniken is dead. Well, sort of.

   I personally have read through some of Van Daniken's work. (It can be a tough go.) To say that his work is focused solely on a "knowledge explosion" is unfair. But, without getting to side tracked, if this book was solely a refutation of Van Daniken's work; it probably would be more interesting, especially is the style and tone of the first chapters flowed throughout the book.

   Instead the author goes into explaining, then discrediting, one theory after another for prehistoric skills and events. Every theory is introduced by discussing its author and a little of the research they have done. In this vein, the book is well referenced so a reader looking for sources can find them easily. For me, it was annoying. I don't want to know why everyone else is wrong, I wanted to know what evidence you have for believing or stating what you think is right. Mr. Rudgley, however, is apparently stating things which must be very controversial because he is very slow to state his case. Step by step by step he goes.

   While walking so slowing, he often also changes his terms, in a way I found confusing. B.C., for example, means "Before Christ" which was about 2001 years ago. (give to take six years for you purists.) I think most people understand this. What does B.C.E. mean? I think it means "Before the Common Era" which began about 2001 years ago. I think. As such, B.C.E. was always D- U-M-B to me. You don't have to believe in Christ to understand that the calender was based on the year we believe he was born. Yet scientists want to avoid association with religion. Finally, there is B.P., "Before Present." This one really confused me for a while. To understand this term, you would have to know when the author wrote the book. Since, however, the dates go back 50,000 years or so, I guess being of by five or 10 years doesn't matter that much.

   It doesn't really matter to me which system of dating time the author used, if he was consistent. This author, however, switches back and forth, even in the same sentences! If you are shaky on the different sytems, it can be distracting. And, the dating system is only one example of how the author would jump around, when explaining things. Combined with other inconsistencies, it was a little lunny.

   In this vein he talks about the origins of writing (which he believes may have come from an accounting system developed in thousands of years before Egypt or Babylonia), ancient religions (and the worship of a "goddess"), early surgery, early language and the early use of fire.

   There are 19 total chapters in this book. Each chapter is about 20 pages long. So, there are about 14 other topics I have not mentioned. I personally got tired of this book at Chapter 10 and skimmed through the rest of it. I`m saving this book though, for a time when I may want to read those chapters, perhaps when I`m better versed on these topics. If, like me, you only had a course in Archeology 15 years ago, don't try to renew your interest here. I guess, for the experts out there, who want a book that may be controversial, have a good time.




3. I cannot recommend this book. It's the same old stuff, an establishment archaeologist clinging to 1930's theories. He closes his mind to paradigm shattering works that render this book obsolete--works like "Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings" by Hapgood; "The Origin Map" by Brophy; and "Giza Powerplant," by Dunn. Instead of addressing the theories of researchers like Z. Sitchin, he unscientifically dismisses them with an unscientific smirk and a laugh, exposing an unwillingness to inspect anything that violates his establishment prejudices.



4. I've always enjoyed this book. The author (despite all the claims for him by other reviewers) simply wants us to rethink what we mean by "technological" and "sophisticated." He's just arguing that our ancestors often got impressive results with simple materials, and that, in turn, should cause us to have a little more respect for them. Frankly, all I ever needed was a glimpse at some of that cave art. No B-movie cave men here.
   
   And no Atlanteans either. This is not a book to be read in a vacuum, or in conjunction with books on Lost Advanced Civilizations. It's meant to cast a different light on conventional archaeological data, so it's a good idea to dive into it with some knowledge of human history, at least the human history that's supported by 95% of the data available out there.
   
   Mind you, I believe there were ancient advanced civilizations, but when we finally uncover them I don't think they're going meet our somewhat naive and either New Age or techno-centric expectations of what ancient advanced civilizations were genuinely like. An open mind is incredibly important here.



5. I found this book to be immensely interesting. Mr. Rudgley shows that prehistoric humans were intelligent, sensitive, and capable beings who contributed much more to the "civilisation" of humanity than they have ever been given credit for.
   
   Many archeologists seem to think that the first humans were a bunch of idiots running around in a fog and barely able to keep themselves alive. Not being an archeologist myself, I always thought they must have been an amazing bunch of people. They developed ways to feed themselves, keep warm and dry, protect themselves, etc. without a single "how-to" book.
   
   Evidence is given of writing, worship, and even surgeries performed before any "cave man" was supposed to be able to form a coherent thought. There are references to many other works that are just as interesting, if not more so, regarding the misconceptions of prehistoric man.
   
   The beginning of this book, and some sections through out the book, are written for a nonacademic audience and are easily understood. It seems at times the author forgets this little tidbit and resorts to an academic form of writing, using language and sentence structure, that is more than a bit confusing for the average person. Other than that, I felt this was an excellent book on this particualar subject.

No comments about Ancient Egypt Lithographs.

3 comments about The Secret Vaults Of Time: Psychic Archaeology And The Quest For Man's Beginnings (Studies in Consciousness).

1. Stephan Schwartz has been involved in discovering, refining, teaching, and using remote viewing techniques for many years. In The Secret Vaults of Time he entertainingly documents the way psi techniques, such as remote viewing and similar psychic talents, have been used for the last hundred years or so in the field of archaeology. He reveals the stories of a number of people who have used such methods to guide their archaeological explorations with astonishing success, but for obvious reasons have sometimes kept to themselves the fact that their initial guidance came from psi methods rather than established traditionally scientific approaches. Even if you are not particularly interested in archaeology (and especially if you are), you should enjoy the book. Clearly Schwartz carried out a great deal of painstaking research for this book, sometimes seeking out relatively obscure references (including in some cases unpublished personal notes from researchers). For anyone looking for clues about whether psi effects represent a hard reality supportable by experiment or whether they are simply fantasy dreamed up by those who wish it were true, this book is an excellent resource. There is a great deal of concrete evidence presented that something "real" is going on here, even if it falls beyond the current mainstream scientific paradigms. A mind sufficiently open to look honestly at the evidence is really the only pre-requisite; from that point you can draw your own conclusions about the validity of these ideas. For me, this book is rather compelling. However, those people who already know with certainty that such things do not exist, regardless of any evidence (which they may safely ignore because it can only be lies or deception), need not bother with this one. For the rest of us, I highly recommend the book, the first in Schwartz's "Engineering of Psi" series. In my opinion writing is excellent and the material is fascinating.



2. The Secret Vaults of Time, by Stephan A. Schwarz
   
   Review by Saul Paul Sirag
   
   The subtitle of this book is "Psychic Archeology and the Quest for Man's Beginnings." It is good news that this book, originally published in 1978, has been republished by Hampton Roads in 2005. It describes in detail six episodes of the use of psychic information to answer the archaeologist's most pressing questions: where to dig, what one is likely to find, and even what it means. The accounts range from Glastonbury Abbey in England to Indian village sites in Canada, as well as Scotland, France, Poland, Egypt, and Mexico. Both the archaeologists and the psychics are presented as real characters-quite colorful characters-in stories that are stranger than fiction. The last three chapters constitute an essay on the philosophical and scientific implications of this breakthrough work. Two appendices provide practical advice for the use of psychics as team members in archaeology. This well illustrated book is a delight to read - and ponder!



3. Stephan Schwartz has written one of the classics in the field of consciousness research. This book should be in the collection of everyone serious about understanding psychic functioning. The book is beautifully written, and the arguments its makes are very compelling. The first chapters tell the stories of some extraordinary people who have used their psychic abilities to locate archaeological sites. The later chapters give the reader a context in which to consider this information. I found it a rare pleasure.

3 comments about How Writing Came About.

1. Schmandt-Besserat is not only an acknowledged leader in epigraphy, she is one of the only linguists to study the slowly evolving history of the assyro-babylonian literary culture. This book, and any other by this author, is strongly reccommended for any library or archeological department.



2. Holy Moley! By Internet standards, the first (and only, until mine) review of this book is of a seemingly archaeological date, seven years ago, that is. Well, I suppose this review won't make much difference when (if) it's read seven years from now! This book is, obviously, a work by a scholar, which is an entirely different category of "being smart." We don't call upon scholars to fix our plugged-up toilets or change the flat tire on our car or restore the electricity, but, if you know just enough history to be grateful to live in our consumer-friendly epoch, you'll be grateful that some out there have dedicated their lives to recording and analyzing the long process of human growth, and the growth of civilization. You can have your Back To Nature fantasies--I'll take the hot shower and electric coffee maker, thank you very much. This particular work, apparently, is a condensation of a two-volume scholarly work, one which, I am sure, that I will never read. But the current volume (the second half of which I read last night, while eating fancy crackers and drinking humble red wine--giving me a connection, I felt, to the agrarian Past of Sumer and Uruk, etc.) is about as good as it gets for laymen (me). For me, it's almost like a religious text, transcending race, language, skin color, nationalism; it's like a Time Machine that takes you back within the range of a subtle sniff of our "egalitarian" prehistoric ancestors; "egalitarian" meaning a small-population culture where you pretty much fed yourself and participated in the group without the framework of authority other than myth and ritutal. A fun read for those who have exhausted the cultural potentialities of SIMPSONS reruns. I wholeheartedly agree with the author's thesis that counting preceded writing. In fact, it was my hunch--from my own reading and thinking--that this was so that prompted me to search for a book with this theory. It just makes sense. I highly doubt that any early resident of a city started the road to high civilization talking about "ennui" or "existentialism." They talked about, "Hey! I paid you this much last month. And you owe me this much tomorrow." Makes sense to me. Just the evidence-supported argument alone that breaking the counting-beyond-three barrier took thousands of years was worth the cover price to me. The single concept (and revelation) that in no way is the faculty of counting beyond three inate to brain function and hence, inate to our modern minds, is simply stunning to me, and adds a dose of gratitude to my daily life, a realization that makes it easier to laugh off the troubles of modern life. We owe so much to the hundreds of generations of men and women who have gone before us, most just living day to day. A good read, especially when enjoyed with fancy crackers and red wine...and about forty years' worth of reading, living and reflecting. So far as what the next review will address: I ain't holding my breath--and that is a very archaelogical attitude.



3. This book will take you through the ruins of an ancient city in Mesopotamia and then will explain the meaning of certain tablets and clay coins found there. The author is very clear in her explanations, there are plenty of pictures and graphics which make your understanding of the text easier. This book is for those who like reading scholarly material because it is very concise and precise on the subject but it could seem dry reading to those who prefer the material to be presented in a more entertaining way.
   I found it very interesting, and it helped me understand the transition from letters to numbers. I loved it!

3 comments about Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh (Metropolitan Museum of Art Series).

1. Once again the Metropolitan Museum has enriched the history and art of Egypt books with the publication of this very impressive catalogue that accompanies the exhibition 'Hatshepsut : From Queen to Pharaoh'. While many other museum exhibitions have been inundated with people attending the King Tut behemoths, this exhibition focuses on Hatshepsut, daughter of King Thutmose I, and wife and half-sister of King Thutmose II, who in the mid-15th century BC gradually acquired kingly status and power for herself. Her reign was twenty years in length as a woman pharaoh.
   
   The catalogue that accompanies this traveling exhibition is beautifully designed and is full of extant drawings and objects that demonstrate her influence on history, culture, monumental art, and architecture of the late 17th and early 18th Dynasties. The writing is of the highest order and divides the book into "Setting the Scene," "Hatshepsut and Her Court," "Hatshepsut's Building Projects," "Decorative Arts," "The Proscription," and "The Aftermath." In addition to the written information, the catalogue has superb reproductions of jewelry, pottery, furniture, reliefs, and statuary. Then, sadly, the writing includes detailed descriptions of the demolition and desecration of the important monuments from Hatshepsut's reign.
   
   Here is a moment in history brought to life by a group of fine curators and writers, suggesting that as much as we think we know about the past, there are always surprises to be brought to our attention by the museums of the world. A fine book, this. Grady Harp, March 06



2. Think of early Egypt and you think of King Tut and Cleopatra. Those two, however, are not the sum total of Egyptian history. This book is basically a catalog of the collection regarding Hatshepsut a most interesting woman. She was the daughter of a king, and was married to her half brother. Upon his death the kingship transferred to his son by a secondary wife with Hatshepsut as regent for her nephew. Later she became co-ruler and king in her own right. Got all that?
   
   The collection, made over many years included numerous pieces that were deliberately smashed about twenty years after her death. Because such fragments were not of value they waited until recent times when they were patiently assembled into the statues that they are today. In addition the collection contains hundreds of objects produced during her reign. The items are described by some twenty-five noted Egyptologists in addition to the three authors.
   
   The book is of large format and profusely illustrated with perhaps 400 pictures, about half of which are in color. This book will remain after the exhibit is gone.



3. This is one of the best books that I've seen on the art, symbolism and life in Ancient Egypt. Set within the reign of Hatshepsut, a royal wife and queen who transformed herself into Pharaoh, it looks at the lives of royal women from the images and personal artifacts that have been left behind.
   
   Each chapter takes a look at aspects of Hatshepsut's reign and life, as well as the architect Senenmut, who may or may not have been her lover, but was also her most trust confidant -- and to whom she turned the education and care of her daughter, Neferure. One section that was of particular interest to me were the displays of women's lives and those of children, a topic that usually gets overlooked. There are exquisite pieces of jewelry, goldwork and tiny statues -- one of a small child, no longer than a pinkie finger, and holding an unbloomed lotus blossom, was particularly poignant. Along with precious objects there were also everyday items from mirrors, toiletry objects, small jars used to hold cosmetics and oils, to boxes and games, and several very fragile pieces of furniture of exquisite craftsmanship. All of these are shown in the catalog, each one with a detailed description and what it was meant to be used for.
   
   Another aspect that I really enjoyed was how Hatshepsut changed the artistic styles that were in use in Egypt, and how it influenced later depictions of rulers. Icongraphy that shows her wearing male attire, false beard and holding symbols of regal authority are throughout, as well as the unusual temple that she designed and built at Deir El-Bahri where she intended to be worshipped and remembered throughout eternity.
   
   The essays are clear and managed to be free of most jargon which would drive away most armchair archaelogists and non-specialists. The book is laid out in beautiful detail and design, giving plenty of room for the reader to savor each object and the type and layout in a pleasing format. Despite the hefty cost at 45$US for the paperback, and 65$US for the hardback editions, it is well worth the price.
   
   In short, if you can't get to one of the locations where this exhibition is showing, this massive and exquisitely produced catalog is the next best thing. The photographs and drawings are very crisp and clear, the writing is informative, there are extensive notes and it provides a lovely experience for anyone interested in the power of women in the ancient world, or Egypt at the height of power and conquest.
   
   For those who are interested in such things, this exhibition was shown in San Francisco in late 2005/early 2006, will continue at the Met until August 2006, and will continue on to the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas from 24 August to 31 December 2006. I do suggest that if you can, do try to see this. It's worth it.
   
   Highly Recommended.

5 comments about Expedition Whydah: The Story of the World's First Excavation of a Pirate Treasure Ship and the Man Who Found Her.

1. Barry Clifford discovered the only wrecked pirate ship ever found, then recovered much of the gold, jewels, and silver aboard the vessel as well as important historical artifacts. As a small boy, Clifford had listened to tales of the pirate ship WHYDAH and its master Black Sam Bellamy told to him by his uncle. Although he grew into adulthood and became a successful marine salvager, thoughts of the WHYDAH and her ill-fated crew, as well as all the treasure rumored to have gone down aboard her, wouldn't leave Clifford's mind at rest. For years he assembled information and research regarding the ship's activities, the sailors and captain aboard her, and the loot WHYDAH had seized. Gradually, as he exhausted all the knowledge that was to be gleaned from histories, journals, and survey maps, Clifford eliminated conflicting data and re-interpreted facts and figures until he was certain he knew where the ship had gone down, taking the captain and most of the crew with her. Armed with his facts and figures, Clifford journeyed to Denver and sold shares in the venture to raise a quarter million dollars investment capital to start searching for the wreck. Within months, he had located the first of the treasure, and the real fighting began with the state agency that tried to take a lion's share of the recovered assets.

   Barry Clifford was a marine salvager by trade and became an expert in piracy by interest. In addition to two non-fiction novels, EXPEDITION WHYDAH and THE LOST FLEET: THE DISCOVERY OF A SUNKEN ARMADA FROM THE GOLDEN AGE OF PIRACY, Clifford also established the Whydah Learning Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts. He's gleaned a lot of support from historical preservation societies and boards.

   Although Clifford's narration of his own book in audio form comes across as less polished than probably could have been done by a professional voice, the dramatic tension involved in the story keeps the listener intent on the tale. In fact, the laconic, laidback way Clifford narrates his story sounds like a guy sitting across the table spinning his story over a cup of coffee. The choice Clifford made to overlap his own findings with the history of the pirates aboard WHYDAH drives the dramatic tension of both stories. Separating those events by putting them in different sections of the book would have diluted both, and made them too episodic. Clifford was making history as he was uncovering it. Even in the abridged form offered in the audiobook, Clifford conveys tons of material relating to the work involved in claiming, finding, and bringing up a significant historical find-especially one laden with gold, silver, and jewels. The history of piracy and the pirates on board WHYDAH when it went down are spooned into the narrative in just the right amounts to keep revealing new details while still leaving the listener for more.

   EXPEDITION WHYDAH is an excellent audiobook to listen to in the car. The bits and pieces that are presented episodically lend themselves to the start and stop of a workday drive. In addition, Clifford's details on the expedition and piracy in general bring a lot of intensity to armchair explorers.




2. Like pirates? Like pirate history? Run right out and buy this book ASAP! I *loved* this book, and read it straight through in two sittings. It follows the trials of Barry Clifford in his decades long search for the Whydah Galley shipwreck off the coast of his Cape Cod home, and final outstanding success in his quest. The book offers *so* much engrossing information about both modern privately-funded marine archaeology (sometimes dismissively referred to as "treasure hunting" by academics) and the life of Black Sam Bellamy, Captain of the Whydah. The book is peppered with maps, photographs from the search and excavation, and careful line-drawings of the artifacts exhumed with accompanying descriptive text.

   This is not to say the book is without fault. At times it is painfully obvious that Clifford's skills lie in other realms than the writing world and the guiding hand of co-writer Perry is either absent or inebriated--at times the prose can be a bit amateur and elementary. I question the quality of editing that went into the work as well, since in places a topic will be "introduced" as if it were new to the reader, when in fact it had already been mentioned in an earlier chapter. And, Clifford's private-archaeology cheerleading can at times seem a bit shrill in his repeated justifications of his work in the face of extreme criticism by the academic realm [1]. And,... the book is a bit dated in its claims of "the only pirate ship ever recovered", since the discoveries (largely by teams led by Clifford) of a number of other pirate shipwrecks have happened since its publication.

   Despite these flaws, the book remains an engrossing read. Clifford and Perry have imbued the text with Clifford's infectious enthusiasm and passion for the life of Bellamy and the search for the Whydah. The story of the search, discovery, and excavation of the wreckage (as well as the financial and legal woes that plagued them from the beginning) is interwoven with legends and factual details about Bellamy and the Whydah crew from the exhaustive research of the Whydah team's staff historian. The book offers an interesting interpretation of the pirate crews of the era as renegade democracies, pioneering a 'rule by the people' culture in revolutionary dispute of crown rule several decades before the American Revolution (at times this verges on a sort of fannish apologist tone, which didn't bother me too much as a reader, being a fannish pirate-apologist at times myself). The book becomes a bit sensationalist toward the end when it delves into a few 'pirate ghost' encounters that Clifford and his crew experienced, but by that point I believe his dedication in relating the story and I think his dedication to the importance of legend and myth as being as integral a part of the appeal of the golden age of piracy as the cold-facts history, that it doesn't come off as corny or insincere.




3. In the past few years, thanks largely to Johnny Depp,there has been an explosion of interest in pirates and swashbuckling sea stories. This book came out considerably before all that (1999)but manages to stir up the same degree of interest for those who are drawn to this topic. I recall being fascinated from the first; any sort of buried-treasure tale is enough to get me to pull out my metal detector and go out and dig holes in the lawn, but the mere name of the ship - "Whydah" - for some reason embodies the spirit of piracy. I wanted to go out and join the team, in any capacity, just to be there when they found stuff.
   
   In the interests of that, I put aside all other current reading material and absorbed this book. I found it highly readable and very informative about a wide range of topics - the life of a pirate in 1717, the topography of Cape Cod then and now, the construction and appointments of sailing vessels ancient and modern, and the deplorably predictable barricade-building by bureaucracy in any number of ways. Unfortunately, it is built in for pencil-pushers and decision-makers - most of whom are academics only, with no practical knowledge of what they're ruling on - to impede progress, and apparently they impeded Mr Clifford on a regular basis.
   
   Barry Clifford, a salvager by trade, was infected by the story of the Whydah at an early age, by his uncle, who lived pretty much within sight of where the ship had gone down over 200 years before. The tale ate away at Clifford through years of wanderings that took him as far as Colorado but which eventually brought him home to the Cape Cod area (actual home base; Martha's Vineyard). A good part of the book is about his struggles to find funding and backers for his decision to go after the Whydah, and it was this part of the narrative I found particularly tiresome; originally he believed $250,000 would be enough for the project, which even I thought to be airheaded - even allowing for better economic times (1982) and never having contemplated anything of that sort myself. (The research boat alone would eat that up.) It had to be more than trying, admittedly, for Mr Clifford to go before board after board arguing his case and having to constantly deal with the road blocks bureaucracy routinely sets up, but his tone began to be a little unbearable as well. Barry Clifford believes wholeheartedly in Barry Clifford. This is a good thing, when it comes to pursuing a dream to reality, but along the way it's bound to gain a host of detractors. He spends a little too much time insisting on the virtues of private archeology - some of which I do subscribe to - and a little too much time name-dropping (JFK Jr, Walter Cronkite, Prince Andrew,William Styron, etc). It is true that most of those people lived on Martha's Vineyard at the time (few others can afford to now)and were neighbours of Clifford's, but it sounded way too sensationalist to me.
   
   Taking the book on its merits, however, Mr Clifford has done an admirable job of outlining the careers of several of the most notorious pirates of the Whydah era. The drawings of the various artifacts brought up from the dig are meticulous and painstaking, right down to the insignia on the everyday dinnerware like spoons, forks, and plates. Everything appears to have been accorded the same degree of respect, right down to carpet tacks; and in his new facility at Provincetown, which houses his finds, he is apparently following all proper procedures of conservation. For that he is to be commended.
   
   This was a fast read (finished it in two days, and I am a leisurely reader) and, aside from my minor quibbles with the writing and a bit of the content (presents his case well, but needs a better co-writer to trim away the fat)I got out of it exactly what I purchased it for - information on the Whydah, which has worked my imagination for years also; entertaining sidebars; and a glimpse into history from someone intimately involved in the process. Worth a read.



4. I bought this after seeing the Whydah treasure in-person in Provincetown, MA. It was a very informative book, just what I was looking for!



5. This book was selected for my monthly book club and I was a little down about it, but Mr. Clifford won me over soon enough. The two stories that run side by side in this book are a wonderful, romantic adventure. After being forced to pick it up, I loved it so much I'm wearing the T-Shirt. Don't let the nonfiction archeology lead you away from this book, which is really a romance with and in the past.

3 comments about The Human Career: Human Biological and Cultural Origins.

1. One of the definitive texts on the evolution of the hominidae. This text presents some very complex material in a very straightforward way with plenty of diagrams, charts, and maps. Many of the controversies found in the field of paleoanthropology are glossed over or skipped altogether, but this volume is still one of the best for an introduction to human evolution both biologically and culturally. A must for anthropology students especially with all the new discoveries in the past few years.



2. By far the most complete and up-to-date treatment of hominid evolution I have encountered. Covers every aspect of paleoanthropology, including climatic changes and dating techniques, in great detail and precision, but with language that even a non-scientist such as myself can understand. An outstanding reference book.



3. about geology, anthropology and paleantology. This book gives minutely detailed information about everything from history to bones. It should really be used as a reference. There is probably no better book on the subject, it was recommended to me by an anthropologist

No comments about Chaco Canyon: Archaeology and Archaeologists.

5 comments about The Parthenon (Wonders of the World).

1. One chilly February morning, just as dawn was arriving and the shops and offices were still clad in the cold grey of the fading night, I saw by the dawn's golden glow the full splendour of the Parthenon floating serenely above the narrow streets of Athens.

   The sun had risen just enough to light the Parthenon. For a moment or so it floated; the Acropolis could have been a cloud with the Parthenon as a vision of the front door to the home of the gods. It was a perfect metaphor for the reputation of ancient Athens as a city committed to beauty, elegance, grace and the sensitivity to express artistic values.

   Mary Beard has done a superb job in this concise and poignant history, undoubtedly the finest structure of its kind in the world. The ancients didn't consider it one of the Seven Wonders of the World, they seem to have based their values on volume instead of quality. Perhaps the Parthenon, even today in its ruined state, should be considered first among the Seven Beauties of the World.

   Her book is a treasure for anyone who has visited the Acropolis; it is essential for anyone who plans to visit Athens and do more than drink ouzo in some seedy taverna. It's more than a bare-bones history; she recounts the scandals in getting it built, and the subsequent sins of omission and commission during the past 20 centuries during which this gem was defaced.

   Maybe my view is warped because of my first magic view; however, I still regard it as a gift of the gods which mortal humans have spoiled. Beard doesn't offer any such speculation; instead, she does offer a nuts-and-bolts history of this gem from the past. That is the strength of her book, she ignores the nonsense and concentrates on facts.

   It is also the weakness, in my view. The history is brief but fascinating, but she doesn't understand the psychic importance of Athena to the Athenians. For a comparison, think of the 'Liberty Enlightening the World' statue in New York harbour and its significance to all Americans, whether they have seen it or not. Both statues embody the ideals of the society in which they are displayed; I suggest when you read this book, to keep this comparison in mind to get a full appreciation of just how much each means to the world.

   England, of course, hasn't built a monument since Stonehenge. England builds little statues to honor its heroes; think of the Albert Memorial. Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square is a mere 59 columns short of a full Parthenon. How about the Millenium Dome to celebrate two centuries of ? ? ? The Statue of Liberty wasn't an American idea, it was a gift from France. It's not easy to come up with an artifact that expresses the ideals of a society through time.

   The Parthenon is a timeless monument. Regardless of what or how you think of it, this book will add to your understanding, appreciation and enjoyment. When you think of how many of today's architectural "gems" will still be visited 2,500 years from now, it gives you an appreciation of what the Athenians accomplished.

   Beard tells you how they did it, and then what happened. It's a superb book.




2. An excellent short history of the Parthenon. Entertaining writing style. But what were the Greeks trying to tell us on this most sculpted temple of Greek antiquity? Like most of the rest of modern classicists and mythologists, Ms. Beard hasn't a clue. It took the artists 15 years to complete the sculptures. They were meant to mean something to us, meant to be understood. For that understanding, I recommend THE PARTHENON CODE: MANKIND'S HISTORY IN MARBLE.



3. This is an exhaustive, fabulous treatise on one of the most venerable monuments to classical history the world has ever known. Beard takes us through the entire history of the Parthenon. She details for us its probable early use as a temple to Athena (as well as some other theories) as well as its less known utility as a Christian church and Mosque in later ages.
   
   Along the way, Beard offers us statements concerning the Parthenon from various historical and modern personages. Some are profound, some are not. Some simply advertise their ignorance (such as the not-so-venerable Shaquille O'Neal). From the vantage points of different epochs we are able to discern how the Parthenon has been seen down through the ages.
   
   Of course, no work on the Parthenon would be complete without examining the highly(!) controversial exploits of one Lord Elgin. As hoped, Beard delivers in giving a thorough description of all the forces at play in both England & Greece. She does not take a position on the issue, so her discussion of this sensitive topic is not apt to offend anyone. Then again, since she refrains from taking a position, perhaps that in itself WILL offend some people? I don't know.
   
   There is also a background section on the disastrous explosion of 1687. It was caused by the Ottoman Empire using (mis-using!) the Parthenon as an arsenal. Not suprisingly, this made it a target for the Venetians and.....you can guess the rest. What is less known is that 300 people perished when the Parthenon exploded. That's an unfortunate detail that is many times overlooked in history classes. As usual, Beard does an excellent job of giving the whole story of what took place.
   
   If you possess an interest in the Parthenon and / or ancient Greece in general, this book is a can't miss. For anyone who wishes to tour Greece (or the British museum in London), this book is highly recommended as well. Even if you only have a passing interest in history per-se, this book will give you an avenue to enjoy the Parthenon & all of its frieze and sculptoral splendor.



4. A spendid book that can be easily read in an afternoon. Covers the topic fully and moves along as it does.



5. Simply commenting on the writing style: very well done. Follows Strunk & White's Elements of Style. Factual too. Every point is rebutted by a counter point, giving a nuianced view. I don't usually give a book five stars (see my other reviews) but this one merits it.