Ten Discoveries That Rewrote History (Paperback)

by Patrick Hunt (Author) "It was 1799 and Napoleon's dream of a military and scientific campaign to the Nile had filled the desert with soldiers and the river with..." (more)
Key Phrases: Patrick Hunt, Machu Picchu, Rosetta Stone (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The world’s greatest archaeological finds and what they tell us about lost civilizations

Renowned archaeologist Patrick Hunt brings his top ten list of ancient archaeological discoveries to life in this concise and captivating book. The Rosetta Stone, Troy, Nivenah’s Assyrian Library, King Tut’s Tomb, Machu Picchu, Pompeii, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Thera, Olduvai Gorge, and the Tomb of 10,000 Warriors—Hunt reveals the fascinating stories of these amazing discoveries and explains the ways in which they added to our knowledge of human history and permanently altered our worldview. Part travel guide to the wonders of the world and part primer on ancient world history, Ten Discoveries That Rewrote History captures the awe and excitement of finding a lost window into ancient civilization.

About the Author
PATRICK HUNT is in the Classics Department at Stanford University, where he has been teaching archaeology, mythology, and art history since 1994. He has been featured on the History Channel and in Archaeology magazine for his Hannibal alpine research and directs Stanford’s Alpine Archaeology project in France, Italy, and Switzerland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Plume (September 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452288770
• ISBN-13: 978-0452288775
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,510 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Books > Science > Archaeology > Historical
  #9 in	Books > History > Ancient > Egypt
  #17 in	Books > History > Africa > Egypt

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding and engaging read, September 30, 2007

By	Patricia de Luna - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Several years ago, my high school age sister rushed through the Louvre, sought out a laundry list of masterpieces and then checked them off as she viewed each one. As an accounting exercise, it was quite satisfying as she now has a piece of paper evidencing that she had physically seen each work of art. As an exercise in art appreciation it left a lot to be desired.

Fortunately, when Patrick Hunt wrote Ten Discoveries that Rewrote History, he brought to the project not just the completeness and accuracy of an accountant but also the sensibility of the well-renowned archaeologist and excellent story teller that he is.

Hunt knows his subject inside out and there is probably not better authority on the landmarks he has chosen to write about. More importantly, however, is that he makes the discoveries come to life. Hunt starts each chapter with a description of the discovery then describes in detail the excavation of the landmark. He then weaves the historical, cultural, and political implications of the discovery into his narrative, thus giving his readers a well-rounded view of some of the most well known wonders in the span of less than 25 pages.

Patrick Hunt excels at capturing the sentiments of both the creators and the discoverers of each featured item. The vivid descriptions make the reader feel as if he is situated in the time period and watching each story unfold before his/her eyes. It is also evident that Patrick Hunt shares in the awe of the grandeur and splendor of these amazing discoveries and through the strength of his writing is able to transfer that same excitement and awe to his audience.

Informative, yet entertaining, the book appeals to readers of all ages and will surely entice all to experience the discoveries first hand.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Read Combining Archaeology and History, October 14, 2007

By	Cadfael (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews

I am fortuante that I have been able to attend the course that Dr. Hunt taught on this subject a few summers back and I am thrilled to see the same subject come out in print. Dr. Hunt's expertise in archaeology and history is clearly demonstrated in this precious collection of ten well known archaeological sites. His writing style and ability to bring to light the most interesting facts about each discovery left me feeling that I wanted to visit each site in person. His prose is easy to read and follow, yet not at all over simplified. This is a huge benefit to me, since I have neither the technical nor scientific background to comprehend an overly academic treatment of the same subject matter. For those who wish to read more about each site, the selected bibliography included at the end of the book provides a helpful starting point.

Overall, a wonderful read - I do hope he is able to do the same with other fascinating discoveries that combine his knowledge of archaeology and history.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific, readable archaeology book, December 23, 2007

By	History Buff (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

I just finished reading "Ten Discoveries that Rewrote History", by Patrick Hunt. This is a terrific book that is very readable yet provides great insight into some of the most important archaeological discoveries of all times (e.g., Rosetta Stone, Troy, Nineveh Library, King Tut's Tomb, Machu Picchu, Pompeii, Dead Sea Scrolls, Thera/Santorini/Atlantis, Olduvai Gorge, and the Terra Cotta Warriors in China). Besides giving the basics on the digs and their history, Prof. Hunt provides hard to find information on the people involved as well as the importance of the digs to archaeology and society. I especially enjoyed the anecdotes whereby he describes his own personal experiences (e.g., becoming an "amauta" (high priest) by playing his flute at Machu Picchu). This book will appeal to history buffs as well as to travelers going to the areas described, and I think it should be required reading for all college students.