- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: W&N; First Edition edition (16 Nov 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0297818473
- ISBN-13: 978-0297818472
- Product Dimensions: 21.8 x 15.2 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,266,431 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
To the layperson it might seem hard to believe that there is anything of archaeological significance left to discover in Egypt, especially in the Valley of the Kings. However, the American archaeologist Kent R. Weeks struck lucky in 1989 when he rediscovered a tomb, referred to as KV 5, which has turned out to be the largest ever found in the Valley of the Kings. Since then, Weeks and his team of excavators have dug out over 100 chambers and the tomb may turn out to be the largest and most unusual in Egypt. Built over 3,000 years ago, it served as a royal mausoleum and final resting place for as many as 30 of the 32 sons of Ramesses II, the most famous and powerful of Egypt's pharaohs. For Weeks, Professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo: "It was the kind of discovery I had dreamed of making four decades ago when I first fantasised about becoming an Egyptologist".
The Lost Tomb describes how Weeks came to rediscover the tomb, which had been partially excavated in 1825 by the British explorer James Burton. As Kent Weeks explains, his book is not an academic treatise on archaeology but a personal account with the aim of sharing "the excitement--and the frustrations--of doing archaeological work in the world's most famous royal cemetery, the Valley of Kings...". He shows how Egyptologists work like detectives, collecting evidence, often tiny pieces of information, to reconstruct a picture of the original site, what went on there and who was involved.
Weeks is an accomplished writer and truly succeeds in his aim. He manages to convey a real sense of what drives archaeologists, both professional and amateur, to spend so much time and effort grubbing about in the dirt in the pursuit of the long- gone but not forgotten glory of ancient Egypt. An excellent index and notes help the reader negotiate the complexities of dynastic names. --Douglas Palmer
Product Description
The Greatest discovery at the Valley of the Kings since Tutankhamen - by the Egyptologist who made the find. Tomb 5 - the tomb surrounding that of Tutankhamen - had been looted, explored and discounted decades ago. So convinced were the authorities that nothing more was to be found in this area that plans were going ahead to build a carpark. In 1 final exploration of what had become a dumping ground for previous excavator's debris, Dr Kent Weeks, an American Archaeologist, discovered a multiple corridored tomb of 62 chambers. They had stumbled upon a crypt fit for 50 Princes - the sons of Rameses II - which had remained undisturbed for 2,000 years. It is known now as KV 5 - the Greatest archaeological discovery for 75 years and the biggestand most complex tomb ever found in Egypt. Kent Weeks will write the book himself using his daily journals and those of both his wife Susan and 1 of their employees. The sample material demonstrates that the journal methid heightens the drama; the author had no idea that he was on the verge of such a major find.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I bought the book, because the subject had been addressed in a documentary based on KV5, I was fascinated to watch the program and just had to learn more and it is all here.
When reading the book you feel like you are there discovering the lost artifacts along with the author, this is a book I have read time and time again and will continue to do so in the future.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I read this book because I was interested in historical Egypt, but as I progressed I began to see many similarities between this book and Peter Mayle's book about Provence. They share a love of the area they describe. This book is as much about Egyptologists and Egypt today as it is about ancient history. A life's passion, lovingly shared.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The book charts Weeks' discovery of the now famous Lost Tomb, KV5. It's not technical and provides a good background on the events of the time for those who are unfamiliar with Egyptology. The book is written in a friendly, easy-going style - exactly as Weeks talks. One can feel his excitement with each new discovery. A good introduction to Egyptology and a good general read. However, this is an unfinished story - who knows how many decades will pass before we know all we can about KV5.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
