From the bestselling author of 1177 B.C., a comprehensive history of archaeology?from its amateur beginnings to the cutting-edge science it is today.In 1922, Howard Carter peered into Tutankhamun's tomb for the first time, the only light coming from the candle in his outstretched hand. Urged to tell what he was seeing through the small opening he had cut in the door to the tomb, the Egyptologist famously replied, "I see wonderful things." Carter's fabulous discovery is just one of the many spellbinding stories told in Three Stones Make a Wall.
Written by Eric Cline, an archaeologist with more than thirty seasons of excavation experience, Three Stones Make a Wall traces the history of archaeology from an amateur pursuit to the cutting-edge science it is today by taking the reader on a tour of major archaeological sites and discoveries, from Pompeii to Petra, Troy to the Terracotta Warriors, and Mycenae to Megiddo and Masada. Cline brings to life the personalities behind these digs, including Heinrich Schliemann, the former businessman who excavated Troy, and Mary Leakey, whose discoveries advanced our understanding of human origins. The discovery of the peoples and civilizations of the past is presented in vivid detail, from the Hittites and Minoans to the Inca, Aztec, and Moche. Along the way, the book addresses the questions archaeologists are asked most often: How do you know where to dig? How are excavations actually done? How do you know how old something is? Who gets to keep what is found?
Taking readers from the pioneering digs of the eighteenth century to the exciting new discoveries being made today, Three Stones Make a Wall is a lively and essential introduction to the story of archaeology.
Industry Reviews
"Intensely readable... Cline is a winning spokesman for his field, with a warm and generous voice evocative of the best university lectures... More than a few readers may feel a sudden urge to rush out to a nearby mound or midden, with spade and trowel in hand."--James Romm, Wall Street Journal "Eric Cline ... doesn't disappoint in his terrific new book."--Steve Donoghue, The National "Wonderfully engaging... Archaeology has developed over the last two centuries into one of the great human sciences. It steadily expands the known history of humans on earth and thickens our knowledge of human diversity. Cline is fortunate to be a leader in this remarkable profession and readers are lucky that he knows how to write about it with precision and joy."--Robert Fulford, National Post "This ambitious project is to be warmly welcomed. [Cline] writes clearly, informatively and enthusiastically and tells a good story, often illuminated by personal experiences from working on site... As a general, up-to-date and excellent value introduction to the world of archaeology and the past it reveals, it can be counted a success."--Peter Jones, Classics for All "Enjoyable and wide-ranging."--Andrew Robinson, New Scientist "Eric Cline is a seasoned archaeologist, and he makes history come alive in this nonfiction look at some of the greatest archaeological discoveries ever made. From Pompeii to Troy, Cline gives an insider look at these famous digs, blending history and science in a way that's guaranteed to keep your attention from the first page. Not only does he take you through the history of the discovery itself, but he also shows you exactly how the dig was managed in the first place. If you've ever wondered how archaeologists function - from where to dig, how to do it, or what comes next - then you'll want to pick up a copy of Three Stones Make a Wall as soon as you possibly can."--Rachel Carter, BookTrib "The seasoned anthropologist-adventurer Eric H. Cline does his best to re-burnish the lost glow of archaeology by collecting several stories of remarkable discoveries in a single well-written volume. The book goes a long way toward reviving the idea that the past, rather than being buried and gone, is the last and greatest frontier of human exploration."--New Criterion "A well-turned, five-point guide to archaeological inquiry... [The book] tenders a broad, fleshy survey of archaeology's history and big finds, as well as the bones and sinews that make the field so fundamental to our human story. Cline's enthusiasm is a force of nature, just bridled enough to pause and consider certain critical genetic sequences in the strands of archaeology's DNA, those that fashioned the field's chromatic stories and venerable truths."--Peter Lewis, Minneapolis Star Tribune "A fun, informative, and scholarly read."--Frank Freeman, Washington Free Beacon "[A] gripping tale of archaeology's greatest wonders."--Simon Caterson, Sydney Morning Herald
