What do you think?
Rate this book
Lost Cities & Ancient Mysteries of South America
Rogue adventurer and maverick archaeologist David Hatcher Childress takes the reader on an unforgettable journeys deep into deadly jungles, windswept mountains and scorching deserts in search of lost civilizations and ancient mysteries.
375 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1986
7 people are currently reading
472 people want to read
About the author
David Hatcher Childress
85 books207 followersDavid Hatcher Childress (born 1957) is an American author and publisher of books on topics in alternative history and historical revisionism. His works often cover such subjects as pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact, the Knights Templar, lost cities and vimana aircraft. Despite his public involvement in the general field of study, Childress claims to have no academic credentials as a professional archaeologist.
Born in France, and raised in Colorado, Childress began his world travels at age nineteen in pursuit of his archaeological interests. In 1983 Childress relocated to Stelle, Illinois, a community founded by New Age writer Richard Kieninger, after Childress was given a book authored by Kieninger while touring Africa. Childress chronicled his explorations in his Lost Cities and Ancient Mysteries series of books, whose core concepts were influenced by the ideas of Kieninger.
While residing in Stelle, Childress began self publishing his own works and later other authors, which focus on presenting fringe scientific theories regarding ancient civilizations and little-known technologies, as well as establishing a travel business in partnership with Kieninger. In 1991, in the nearby town of Kempton, Illinois, Childress, along with historian and linguist Carl W. Hart, founded the World Explorers Club, a group that often travels to the places he writes about, and an affiliated magazine, World Explorer.
David Hatcher Childress has appeared on several television programs on NBC ("The Mysterious Origins of Man"), Fox Network (Sightings and Encounters), Discovery Channel, A&E, The History Channel, as a commentator on subjects such as the Bermuda Triangle, Atlantis, and UFOs.
Childress has been involved in two lawsuits regarding his publishing activities, one of which failed due to the expiry of a statute of limitations and the other, involving his company's publication of a master's thesis without permission, which was settled out of court.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ha...
Born in France, and raised in Colorado, Childress began his world travels at age nineteen in pursuit of his archaeological interests. In 1983 Childress relocated to Stelle, Illinois, a community founded by New Age writer Richard Kieninger, after Childress was given a book authored by Kieninger while touring Africa. Childress chronicled his explorations in his Lost Cities and Ancient Mysteries series of books, whose core concepts were influenced by the ideas of Kieninger.
While residing in Stelle, Childress began self publishing his own works and later other authors, which focus on presenting fringe scientific theories regarding ancient civilizations and little-known technologies, as well as establishing a travel business in partnership with Kieninger. In 1991, in the nearby town of Kempton, Illinois, Childress, along with historian and linguist Carl W. Hart, founded the World Explorers Club, a group that often travels to the places he writes about, and an affiliated magazine, World Explorer.
David Hatcher Childress has appeared on several television programs on NBC ("The Mysterious Origins of Man"), Fox Network (Sightings and Encounters), Discovery Channel, A&E, The History Channel, as a commentator on subjects such as the Bermuda Triangle, Atlantis, and UFOs.
Childress has been involved in two lawsuits regarding his publishing activities, one of which failed due to the expiry of a statute of limitations and the other, involving his company's publication of a master's thesis without permission, which was settled out of court.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ha...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 28, 2023
This book was such a silly combination of the legends surrounding Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and some random adventuring guy in the 80s! We do be wondering who built all those tunnels in the Andes 🤔
February 15, 2009
Imagine how surprised I was to open up this book and read in the first paragraph that the author had left his family's home in Montana! Although I am from Montana and am obsessed with traveling, I am still amazed that a state currently with less than a million people has so many connections to literature and history.
Unfortunately as Lost Cities and Ancient Mysteries of South America was written in the mid-80s, much of it's travelogue style is out-dated and a hostel in Peru no-longer costs $2 per night. However, the author has done his research and explains himself as no-expert, quoting well-established history papers, expeditions and fanciful sci-fi writers (admittedly skeptical of the latter).
There are many typos which hint at poor editing and fast publishing, and the book encourages me to see what has changed in South American Anthropology and Archaeology since the mid-80s.
What struck me in the end was how much of South America has yet to be explored and how no theories are even offered for many remote ruins as there are almost no written records. Also, surprising are the number of people who set out to look for ancient cities never to be heard from again....even in the 1950's and 60's. Then, modern archaeologists looking at modern space images and saying, "Oh you really should have waited, it's right there on my satellite picture."
Unfortunately as Lost Cities and Ancient Mysteries of South America was written in the mid-80s, much of it's travelogue style is out-dated and a hostel in Peru no-longer costs $2 per night. However, the author has done his research and explains himself as no-expert, quoting well-established history papers, expeditions and fanciful sci-fi writers (admittedly skeptical of the latter).
There are many typos which hint at poor editing and fast publishing, and the book encourages me to see what has changed in South American Anthropology and Archaeology since the mid-80s.
What struck me in the end was how much of South America has yet to be explored and how no theories are even offered for many remote ruins as there are almost no written records. Also, surprising are the number of people who set out to look for ancient cities never to be heard from again....even in the 1950's and 60's. Then, modern archaeologists looking at modern space images and saying, "Oh you really should have waited, it's right there on my satellite picture."
March 12, 2015
A romp taking itself too seriously. Did you know that everything the Incas accomplished was taught to them by Irish missionaries? or perhaps the descendants of Atlantis? Other than the ridiculous notion that all wonderful achievements have to be somehow created by people of NO color, this is a fun read. The parts i did know a smidge about (Lt. Colonel Percival Harrison Fawcett and his search for the lost city of Z) were almost reliably retold - but the wacky gold-riddled ideas of crazy Europeans are entertaining.
March 22, 2023
As I read this book, I was a little jealous that my travel experiences have been more planned and less adventurous. In these 349 pages, the author shares some history, some speculation, and some personal experiences as he travels by plane, bus, and hitchhiking around South America. In some ways, this book reminded me of the movie The Motorcycle Diaries.
Published in 1986, I wonder if some of his “lost cities and ancient mysteries” are better known than when he explored them. This book did remind me that yes, there is still so much we do not know about the past, all it entailed and still entails, and that there are probably many more mysteries and unknown places than we could ever imagine.
When I first picked this book up, I hoped to use it, or some of it, in my Latin American Civilzation and Culture course. I did learn some new facts about South America, but not enough to keep it or reread it. This book is almost like a travel log, divided into sixteen chapters with some really interesting facts about past civilizations and the cities they built. Overall, this book was fun to read and my impression is that David Hatcher Childress is quite brave and leads a very interesting life, and is not your typical tourist.
Published in 1986, I wonder if some of his “lost cities and ancient mysteries” are better known than when he explored them. This book did remind me that yes, there is still so much we do not know about the past, all it entailed and still entails, and that there are probably many more mysteries and unknown places than we could ever imagine.
When I first picked this book up, I hoped to use it, or some of it, in my Latin American Civilzation and Culture course. I did learn some new facts about South America, but not enough to keep it or reread it. This book is almost like a travel log, divided into sixteen chapters with some really interesting facts about past civilizations and the cities they built. Overall, this book was fun to read and my impression is that David Hatcher Childress is quite brave and leads a very interesting life, and is not your typical tourist.
August 5, 2023
South America is an ancient continent full of mystery. Here we follow the author on an incredible trip (with many brilliant photos) through the huge countries. Peru, Lima to Nazca, the Candlestick of the Andes, a mummy, lost treasure of the Incas, did Eldorado really exist?, Machu Picchu, Bolivia, hitchhiking in Chile, across Patagonia, Argentina and Paraguay, the Amazon Jungle, Matto Grosso, pyramids and gold mysteries... a very intriguing and captivating read. Highly recommended!
July 28, 2023
This is more of an adventure travelogue with a good focus on the ancient cities. The author actually ran out of money or avoided risking his life, so ultimately missed a few of the cities on the itinerary. This is very real to travel. The summaries of the Incas, Cham Cham, and various others is quite good. Overall the author responsibly separates what is speculation and what is more plausible.
March 18, 2024
Loved the book, real nice read and an incredible amount of information.
On the fun side of it, he bashed Erich Von Dannikne many times in the book, but now he works with him on the AA series, he was not a believer in the AA theory back then.
There are more updated books on the subject, but it is still really good to read this one.
On the fun side of it, he bashed Erich Von Dannikne many times in the book, but now he works with him on the AA series, he was not a believer in the AA theory back then.
There are more updated books on the subject, but it is still really good to read this one.
November 17, 2023
Essentially a travelogue by a young poor backpacker with some of the history thrown in which was interesting.
January 6, 2015
a good romp through south america. I read it while in Peru and found it good for mentioning lesser known archaeological sites but after that it's not of much help (pictures were good). I enjoyed it far more for the authors escapades but being Irish I got a great chuckle out of the Irish monk theory for the origin for the Inca empire! entertaining stuff, do not take seriously!!
October 30, 2008
A fairly fantastical account of Childress' travels through South America, and the lore that surrounds the ruins and cultures in the area. Light on actual fact, but really entertaining. It made me super excited to explore Peru!!
March 2, 2008
Disclaimer: this book is full of ridiculous speculation; nevertheless a great sourcebook of pop mythology, conspiracy, and archeaological anomalies.
September 24, 2012
Childress tells about his travels through South America with such detail and excitement that you want to book your flight and follow in his path immediately.
December 1, 2016
How much you like this book totally depends on your interest level in South America! I have a high interest level.
Read
June 27, 2013I was disappointed in this - it was a rambling mess.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews