Archaeology

Sam is an archaeologist. He and his team find and study ancient objects to learn more about the people who made and used them long ago. On this exciting dig, they carefully remove dirt layer by layer and use dating techniques in the lab to calculate the age of the artifacts they find.

Travel around the world and back in time to learn about one of the coolest careers. Discover what archaeologists do, from digging through sand to traversing the jungle to diving into underwater caves. You'll explore exciting discoveries that change our perception of history and check out some of the newest technologies that let us dig deeper into the past than ever before.

Breezy and informative, with color illustrations that often employ humor to convey the more seriously stated content of the text, this book ranges from the deep religious beliefs that often accompanied mummies' creation to the more practical fact that a decaying body smells. After a brief explanation of what mummies are, Davis zeroes in on the world's most famous mummies, those of Egypt. In addition to providing a significant amount of material on their preparation and burial, the author also discusses hieroglyphs, sarcophagi, funeral processions, pyramids, animal mummies, and even the alleged curse on King Tutankhamen's tomb. He includes natural mummification by arctic ice and desert dryness, the Incan and pre-Incan mummies of South America, those of China and the bogs of northwestern Europe, and the “ice man” discovered in the 1990s. He concludes with a look at what scientists can learn about daily life in the past from examining preserved bodies, a brief discussion of the modern practice of cryogenic suspension, and an annotated list of American museums with mummy collections. It is more suitable for browsing and pleasure reading than for research.

Dig It! Archaeology for Kids takes readers on a tour through the fascinating world of archaeology, pausing along the way for glimpses into the past lives of people in ancient civilizations across the globe throughout time. This archaeological journey itinerary includes steps in archaeology―finding a site, excavation, lab work, interpretation, and conservation―and types of archaeologists. Bonus topics include tie-ins to the fields of history and art history, household archaeology, artifact museum ownership, and the impact of climate on artifacts.

Donnelly gives simple details about how King Tutankhamen was buried and on the ancient Egyptians beliefs about death. The story then skips ahead to the 1800s, when Howard Carter's frustrating five-year search for Egyptian treasure finally resulted in his discovery of the young pharoah's tomb. Although there's little new information here, these true tales of mummies and ancient treasure in an easy-reader format should prove popular.

For thousands of years the Sphinx at Giza has gazed east toward the Nile River. Today, within hundreds of yards from its base, buses unload tourists at the edge of Cairo's urban sprawl. Giblin recounts the history of this monolithic symbol of power and the problems of erosion, air pollution, and tourism that face it today. He provides background on the location, hieroglyphic writing, Egyptian religion, and the flourishing of Fourth Dynasty (considered responsible for the creation of the Sphinx). He weaves ancient legends about the monument with commentary from a first-century visitor (Pliny) and modern-day controversies. Giblin also covers the recent discovery of a workers' settlement at the Giza Plateau and what this tells us about the builders of the monuments. However, his recounting of the story of the destruction of Atlantis and its relationship to the Edgar Cayce Foundation's continued efforts to find a “records chamber” under the statue is a lengthy and confusing digression. Sand-toned paintings reveal the Sphinx in its ancient and modern grandeur and provide readers with an idea of the work performed by laborers at Giza. A simple, attractive map highlights important sites. While many books on ancient Egypt mention the Sphinx, this is the only title devoted exclusively to the topic for this audience. Pairing Secrets with Zahi Hawass's Curse of the Pharaohs (National Geographic, 2004) will provide readers with additional context and bring them up-to-date on archaeological work in the region.

Intriguing tales and photographs of mummified remains are sure hooks for young readers. The book begins with background information on the ancient Egyptian process of preserving bodies followed by stories of mummification. The discovery of an Inca girl (most likely a human sacrifice), a Sicilian catacomb filled with 6,000 bodies, the amazing discovery of King Tut's tomb by Carter and Carnarvon in 1922, and the mysterious disappearance of the body of Argentina's Evita Peron are related. Plenty of color photos, with some especially creepy ones of the mummified villagers of Palermo (many of them still wearing their original clothes), are included. This volume is similar to Brenda Guiberson's Mummy Mysteries (Holt, 1998), but with a lower reading level and riveting illustrations. A good choice for reluctant readers.

This series entry touches on aspects of archaeology in many locations around the world. Each double-page spread examines one or two concepts: preservation and decay, excavation, clues to the past, human remains, fakes and forgeries, etc. Paragraph headings are occasionally annoyingly cute, e.g., “Big Brother is Watching,” “Caught in the Act,” and “Getting Plastered.” Full-color photographs are scattered across the spreads with brief, museumlike labels that offer tidbits of random information. A few photographs almost fill the page, but most are very small. Readers are not likely to use this book for research, but will want to make repeated short visits.

Photographed in full color. Unwrap hair-raising facts about natural and man-made mummies! Here is a look at how bodies were prepared, why ancient cultures made mummies, and how bog and ice mummies were preserved by freak climatic conditions. “A great collection of mummy information and specimens.”