From School Library Journal
Gr 4-8-Palenque, a natural terrace situated by springs in the Yucat n, was home to Mayans during their classical period. In this photo-essay, Lourie recounts his visit to this archaeological site, discovered over a century ago but still largely unexcavated. His narrative, which begins with a dramatic encounter with a highly venomous pit viper, maintains momentum throughout. The author provides some background information on early excavations of the city along with fascinating archival photos and reproductions from that period. He discusses the painstakingly slow progress of uncovering buildings in the jungle and introduces readers to Palenque's archaeologists, macheteros (hired to cut through the vegetation), and its mysterious "spiritual guide." Excellent color photographs expose the fine detail of the city's stonework, witness the encroaching jungle, offer portraits of local residents, and record on-site work. This title will be a great adjunct to studies of this ancient culture, or Mexico, and with its many mentions and pictures of scorpions, bats, snakes, and tunnels, it should appeal to reluctant readers.
Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 5-8. Lourie, best known for his present-day treks into the past, is in southern Mexico this time, working with a team of archaeologists at the Mayan city of Palenque. His zest for adventure comes through in his writing, whether he is detailing the work of the archaeologists, recounting the history of the Maya, or describing jungle sights and sounds. He captures the excitement of the dig through a satisfying blend of all of these elements along with many colorful photos of the ruins, landscape, and native people. As in Lourie's Lost Treasure of the Inca (1999), there is no dramatic climax, no discovery of a priceless artifact or epiphany about Mayan civilization. Instead, Lourie's experience at Palenque reflects the realistic pace of archaeology as it slowly, steadily uncovers the past and shapes our understanding of ancient history. The design is open, with clear type and photos on each page. Readers are sure to use this book as a jumping-off point for further exploration of Mayan culture. A glossary and a brief bibliography are included. Randy Meyer
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
