X MARKS THE SPOT: An Adventurous History of Archaeology

Who knew that there may be a further 6,000 suits of armour yet to uncover in addition to the Chinese Imperial Terracotta Warriors already unearthed? Or that Kenya's Olduvai Gorge preserves footprints prove that the featherless biped - us - walked on two feet far earlier than previously imagined? Or that the Rosetta Stone contains not three, but four inscribed texts? All that and much more as we explore our love affair with the past. Through eight of history's most audacious acts of discovery, Michael Scott tells us the story of archaeology itself. It is a thrilling investigation into humankind's obsession with the physical remains of the past. Both as a greatest hits compendium of archaeological breakthroughs and as a subtle examination of how 'discovery' has evolved. Professor Scott shows that what is often required was more than just courage, persistence and talent, but also geopolitical pressure, local knowledge, dubious ethical choices, and pure blind luck. Here are monumental discoveries, unearthing traps, curses and buried treasure found from glorious hunters to forgotten heroes. A vibrant take on key modern finds and the colourful characters who made them. 303 page paperback with maps and eight pages of colour plates.