Hidden History: Lost Civilizations, Secret Knowledge, and Ancient Mysteries (Paperback)

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Product Description

Despite being enmeshed in a culture steeped in technology and science, the magic and mysteries of the ancient world can still haunt our imagination. Through their architecture, artefacts and deeds, ancient cultures speak to us across thousands of dusty years—from the labyrinthine palace of Knossos on Crete and the lofty pyramids of Egypt to the remotest jungle temples of Peru and the megalithic mystery of Stonehenge.

Hidden History brings together a fascinating selection of these ancient enigmas, arranging them into three sections: Mysterious Places, Unexplained Artefacts, and Enigmatic People. You’ll discover fascinating facts about: • The Great Sphinx—Mysticism and archaeology collide in the ongoing debate over this enigmatic monument. • Mystery Hill—Who built the intriguing megalithic complex lying 40 miles north of Boston? • The Antikythera Mechanism—An ancient Greek computer found beneath the Aegean Sea. • The Giant Hill-Figures of England—The Uffington White Horse and other huge chalk figures cut into the English countryside thousands of years ago. • The Queen of Sheba—Clues to the real identity of this mighty ruler famous for her Biblical visit to King Solomon • Newgrange—Hundreds of years older than the Giza Pyramid and Stonehenge. Who were the builders of this Irish megalithic monument?

Hidden History fills the gap between archaeology and alternative history using the latest available data and a common sense, open-minded approach. The book discusses not only ancient history’s major mysteries, but also some of the puzzles of alternative history—like the "Coso Artefact," the possibility of ancient flight, and the mysterious "Voynich Manuscript"—as well as mysterious peoples from the Magi and the Druids to the Knights Templar and the Green Children.

With more than 50 photographs and illustrations, this is the ideal reference work for those interested in the archaeology of these great enigmas.

About the Author

Brian Haughton is a qualified archaeologist, with an interest in the strange and unusual. He is a graduate of Nottingham (B.A. in Archaeology) and Birmingham (M. Phil in Greek Archaeology) Universities. His Mysterious People website, devoted to the lives of enigmatic people, has had more than half a million visitors in three years. He currently lives, writes, and teaches in Greece.

Product Details

• Paperback: 271 pages
• Publisher: New Page Books; 1 edition (January 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564148971
• ISBN-13: 978-1564148971
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #249,565 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent and fascinating exploration of historical mysteries, November 27, 2007

By	Kathleen R. Tedsen (Macomb, MI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was impressed at the intelligent approach of this author's writing. The areas covered are very diverse, fact-based, fascinating accounts of mysterious places, curious and unexplainable artifacts and other strange and unusual historical events and people across the world. There is no question that this author put considerable time and research into each topic covered. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A scattering of black-and-white photographs illustrate this fantastic volume, April 7, 2007

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Written by archaeologist and devote of the esoteric Brian Haughton, Hidden History: Lost Civilizations, Secret Knowledge, and Ancient Mysteries is an amazing survey of mystic places, people, events and structures throughout history. From clues to the true identity of the Queen of Sheba, to ongoing debates concerning the Great Sphinx, to the Irish Newgrange megalith hundreds of years older than the Giza Pyramid and Stonehenge, to evidence for the origins of the Greek myth concerning the Minotaur, each chapter sheds new light on ancient quandaries of human history. A scattering of black-and-white photographs illustrate this fantastic volume; though highly speculative at times, Hidden History is sure to be a treat for anyone with a taste for ancient fables, wonders, and conundrums.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poorly written, poorly documented, July 22, 2008

By	Mark A. Biernbaum "Researcher and Psychologist" (New York, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I had expected perhaps 10-12 chapters with in-depth research. There are over 40. Each is about 5 pages or less. There is no real information here. It's clear that the book was both authored and published on the cheap. Don't buy it.