Stonehenge (Digging for the Past) [Hardcover]

Caroline Malone (Author), Nancy Stone Bernard (Author), Brian Fagan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 6, 2002 | Series: Digging for the Past

Who built Stonehenge, and why is it one of the great mysteries of the prehistoric world? Here, Caroline Malone and Nancy Stone Bernard explore the myths, legends, and lies that have surrounded the ancient megaliths since the 12th century, when people believed that the sorcerer Merlin magically transported the stones to England. Readers learn why the druid myth still persists, how the structure was possibly constructed, and why the site was abandoned centuries after it was built. Including numerous sidebars, photographs, and diagrams on the archaeological history of the site and an engaging interview with archaeologist Caroline Malone, Stonehenge captures the imagination and curiosity of every budding archaeologist.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-Beginning with two small orientation maps that assume readers know that the monument is in England, Bernard and Malone start off with a lengthy chapter relating the myths and misconceptions about this mysterious circle of stones. Youngsters who have no context for understanding this information will find it confusing and disjointed. The authors promise to answer questions about why, how, and when Stonehenge was built, but they fail to offer many concrete answers. Six pages are devoted to sidebar discussions of scientific dating, megaliths, aerial discoveries, and an interview with Malone that adds little to understanding Stonehenge. The full-color illustrations, diagrams, and photographs are often small and it is sometimes unclear what viewers are supposed to see. The glossary is helpful but the further readings are almost entirely adult titles. There are few books available on the subject for this audience, but libraries may want to wait for a livelier, clearer presentation to add to their collections.
Jeanette Larson, Texas State Library, Austin
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Reviewed with R. Gwinn Vivian and Margaret Anderson's Chaco Canyon.

Gr. 7-10. Written by a science writer and an archaeologist, each title in the new Digging for the Past series brings young readers up close to the field of archaeology. These books begin with maps and time lines of the sites' history and past archaeological digs. Subsequent chapters offer theories about how the structures were built and the people and traditions associated with the sites, always showing how scientists have formed opinions from archaeological discoveries. Of the two titles, Chaco Canyon offers a more in-depth view of how scientists live in the field, while Stonehenge gives a more organized overview of the mysterious site itself. But both books offer plenty of facts for reports, and they close with interviews between the writer and archaeologist that are filled with personal stories and invite readers to learn more about the field. Sharp color photos show the sites, artifacts, and the scientists at work, and the each book concludes with a further reading list and a glossary. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (June 6, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195143140
• ISBN-13: 978-0195143140
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,525,406 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fact is more interesting than fiction, July 29, 2002

By 

K. A. Kolbert "kkolbert" (Santa Fe,, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stonehenge (Digging for the Past) (Hardcover)

Stonehenge is a comprehensive and intelligible book that delves into the past explaining facts plus the fallacious legends that have always surrounded this archeological phenomena. It helped me further understand what present day discoveries have been made' and how the legends grew up around Stonehenge. The interview at the end of the book with Ms. Malone was educational and informative. The thorough glossary was also very helpful. I would highly recommend this book to any novice or person already interested in archeology.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, November 23, 2004

By 

J. Clemens "Experiential Brain Surgeon" (Illinois USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stonehenge (Digging for the Past) (Hardcover)

I bought 30 copies for my 7th graders to use year after year. Enough said?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stonehenge (digging for the past) & Valley of the Kings book, January 30, 2003

By 

Susan Middleton (La Jolla, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stonehenge (Digging for the Past) (Hardcover)

I am impressed with the Stonehenge and Valley of the Kings books for a variety of reasons:
-crisp, clear, appealing layout
-inclusion of maps with modern cities and related sites
-timeline, glossary and index
-photos and drawings have clear informational captions
-interesting aspects of the topic are explained on full-page "asides"
-use of words like "probably" and "one theory" to explore how our understanding of these ancient sites changes as archeologists discover more
-the mixture of the historical and legendary with the technical and physical information
-interviews with the archeologists, which personalizes the subject and makes it real and possible for students