A blast from the past.

King Arthur and the Holy Grail, the lost tomb of Alexander the Great, and the story of Atlantis: the human past is full of unsolved mysteries. The Seventy Great Mysteries of the Ancient Worm draws on modern science and the latest research to explore some of archaeology's most baffling controversies and enigmas, from our origins to the mysterious collapse of powerful civilizations.

Leading authorities discuss the essential questions, beginning with the truth behind myths and legends. Was there ever a Garden of Eden? What became of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel and what is the significance of the Aboriginal Dreamtime? The book then examines mysteries of the Stone Age: the beginnings of language, the fate of the Neandertals, and the meaning of cave paintings. The much-debated first settlement of Australia and the Americas and the controversial Kennewick skull are considered, as is the significance of European megaliths. Ancient civilizations present fascinating enigmas: How did Tutankhamun die? What happened to the lost legions of Rome? And mysteries are found in all parts of the globe: Did the Olmecs originate in Africa? Were the bog bodies of northern Europe murder victims? Finally, it examines the controversies surrounding the collapse of such civilizations as the Minoan, the Maya, and the Moche of lowland Peru.

Packed with evocative photographs and informative diagrams, maps, and plans, The Seventy Great Mysteries of the Ancient World is a unique guide to some of the most contentious issues of the human past.

--from Thames and Hudson

Abu Simbel, Angkor Wat, and Petra: Today we stand in awe before the great monuments of the past, wondering who built them and for what purpose. We find it almost inconceivable that they were constructed using only simple tools wielded by human hands. The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World examines these spectacular feats of engineering, celebrating the achievements of the builders who created impressive, often beautiful structures without the benefit of modern technology.

Expanding on the theme of the traditional seven wonders, The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World incorporates marvels from around the globe, spanning the centuries from the first standing stones of the 5th millenmum B.C. to me Great Temple of the Aztecs in the 16th century A.D. The shaping of the Great Sphinx at Giza, the raising of the stones at Stonehenge, the laying out of the Nazca lines on the face of the Peruvian desert, and the construction of the Great Wall of China are all described and explained in light of the most up-to-date archaeological research. So too are the erection of Egyptian obelisks and Easter Island statues and the building of Roman roads and Inca bridges. Neglected monuments, such as the giant stealae of Aksum, the mountain palace at Sigiriya, and the Colossal Buddha of Bamiyan, are set beside the Baths of Caracalla in Rome and the magnificent palace of Persepolis.

Packed with fact files, diagrams, photographs, and newly commissioned essays, The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World provides a testament to the skill of the ancient architects and engineers who created lasting memorials.

--from Thames and Hudson