The History of Archaeology: Great Excavations of the World

by John Romer, Elizabeth Romer

The History of Archaeology traces the history of this science from its inception in eighteenth century Pompeii to the present day. With detailed text and hundreds of full-color photographs, it describes the scientific advances made by key figures, such as C. J. Thomsen; renowned personalities of archaeology, such as Giovanni Belzoni; and important events in archaeological history, such as the development of Carbon 14 dating by scientists in the 1950s. Each of the book's five sections describes the history of one of the basic themes in archaeology, including: The search for treasure trove
The search for the origins of humankind and civilization
The search for "scientific" proof of the truth of ancient writings and of holy scripture
The constant, continuing search for ancient pedigree for every modern nation and culture
The universal re-occurring question, "What were our ancestors really like?"

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Archaeology

216 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2000

About the author

John Louis Romer attended Ottershaw School, the Wimbledon School of Art (1958-1963), and the Royal College of Art (A.R.C.A., 1966) in London. Following this, he traveled and studied in the Near East and married his wife Yvonne Elizabeth de Coetlogan Aylwin (Beth), an artist and writer. After a brief stint teaching the history of art and architecture at art colleges in England and Wales (1968-1972), he worked as an epigraphic artist with the British Institute in Iran at Persepolis and Pasargadae in 1972. He worked as an artist in epigraphic studies — with the German Archaeological Institute in Cairo, 1972-1973, and with the Oriental Institute Epigraphic Survey, 1973-1977 — in the temples and tombs of Thebes. In 1977-1979, he became the Field Director of The Brooklyn Museum’s Theban Expedition, originating and organizing an excavation of the tomb of Ramesses XI in the Valley of the Kings. In 1992, at the request of the Egyptian Organization of Antiquities, he convened a multinational committee to advise and recommend projects and procedures for the conservation of the Valley of the Kings. He is a member of the International Association of Egyptologists and the Egypt Exploration Society. He has been the President of the Theban Foundation since 1979. He has written several acclaimed books and produced some excellent documentaries. His primary interests are in the preservation of antiquities, and in making the past meaningful to present-day people. When he is not busy writing books, making documentaries, or pushing for conservation in the Valley of the Kings, he and his wife live in Aiola, Tuscany, Italy.

Reviews

[YASUKO · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think it is a better book of getting to know the early beginning of archaeology