Stones, Bones, and Ancient Cities: Great Discoveries in Archaeology and the Search for Human Origins [Paperback]

Lawrence H. Robbins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1978 | ISBN-10: 031207848X | ISBN-13: 978-0312078485 | Edition: Reprint

The idea for this book grew directly out of a course developed by Lawrence Robbins, Professor of Anthopology at Michigan State University, called Great Discoveries in Archaeology. Professor Robbins saw the need for a good introductory book for the course. The book is primarily about four areas: 1) Spectacular and important finds and the way they were made; 2) The personalities concerned with many of these discoveries; 3) The reaction to the finds and their impact on both science and the public; and 4) Changing interpretations about the discoveries.

Dr. Robbins discusses many great discoveries, including the discovery of Lucy, European cave art, Tomb of Tutankhamen, Troy, Pompeii, Machu Picchu, Stonehenge, Native American Sites, the Rosetta Stone and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

This is a reprint of the 1990 edition with the addition of a new Preface which discusses some of the surprising new finds that have appeared since this book was first published.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Archaeologist Robbins has compiled facts, theories, and personal experience into a highly readable and informative excursion into the past. -- Booklist

The stories are varied and fascinating... The photographs, particularly of cave art, are unusually good. -- West Coast Review of Books --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 267 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; Reprint edition (December 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031207848X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312078485
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,879,497 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 Very Good Book, June 18, 2003

By 

"astrea_evania" (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stones, Bones, and Ancient Cities: Great Discoveries in Archaeology and the Search for Human Origins (Paperback)

This book covers a wide range of archaeological finds from all over the world. Cave paintings, skeletons, tombs, the list goes on. There are different (and more specialized) types of archaeology mentioned as well as the discoveries they brought about. Another thing I liked was that the author presents different interpretations and points of view about the information recovered from digs. In the back of the book there's a chronological table of archaeology discoveries that helped me to better organize important dates in my mind.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Reading, Great Info, I Loved it!!, November 1, 2001

By 

Carla J. Schultz "kayceygirl" (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stones, Bones, and Ancient Cities: Great Discoveries in Archaeology and the Search for Human Origins (Paperback)

Well, I wasn't too sure when I started but by the time I finished the first chapter, "Stones, Bones and Ancient Cities" by Lawrence H. Robbins had me hooked so much I didn't get much sleep for the next few days. The writing style is crisp, clean and easy to understand. Robbins presents the cold-hard facts not just in layman's terms but in INTERESTING terms. I really loved the map of important sites discussed in the book which helped to put things into real perspective.

Chapter 2 about Cave Art is really eye-opening and informative about this controversial and speculative area of anthropology. Robbins also presents several Time-Lines at the back of the book that are also very informative. I am also a HUGE fan of the Chapter-by-Chapter form of Notes to be terrific for those of us that like to add more and more reading materials to our shelves. The photographs are fine though MORE is always better in these types of books.

REALLY AN ENJOYABLE READ!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reading Material!!, February 23, 2001

By 

Tracy Dutcher (Michigan USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stones, Bones, and Ancient Cities: Great Discoveries in Archaeology and the Search for Human Origins (Paperback)

This book is excellent reading material!! Dr. Robbins is my professor for a Great Discoveries in Archaeology class at MSU and we use this book for the class. I certainly don't feel as if I'm doing homework while reading it. The book is very informative, yet easy reading material. Dr. Robbins is a very talented professor and writer with a great deal of precise and sometimes humorous information to offer anyone interested in reading this book!!