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Books > Humanities > Archaeology > Archaeology by period / region > Prehistoric archaeology
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From Stonehenge to Samarkand - An Anthology of Archaeological Travel Writing (Hardcover)
Loot Price: R838
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From Stonehenge to Samarkand - An Anthology of Archaeological Travel Writing (Hardcover)
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Ever since Roman tourists scratched graffiti on the pyramids and
temples of Egypt over two thousand years ago, people have travelled
far and wide seeking the great wonders of antiquity. In From
Stonehenge to Samarkand, noted archaeologist and popular writer
Brian Fagan offers an engaging historical account of our enduring
love of ancient architecture-the irresistible impulse to visit
strange lands in search of lost cities and forgotten monuments.
Here is a marvellous history of archaeological tourism, with
generous excerpts from the writings of the tourists themselves.
Readers will find Herodotus describing the construction of Babylon;
Edward Gibbon receiving inspiration for his seminal work while
wandering through the ruins of the Forum in Rome; Gustave Flaubert
watching the sunrise from atop the Pyramid of Cheops. We visit
Easter Island with Pierre Loti, Machu Picchu with Hiram Bingham,
Central Africa with David Livingstone. Fagan describes the early
antiquarians, consumed with a passionate and omnivorous curiosity,
pondering the mysteries of Stonehenge, but he also considers some
of the less reputable figures, such as the Earl of Elgin, who sold
large parts of the Parthenon to the British Museum. Finally, he
discusses the changing nature of archaeological tourism, from the
early romantic wanderings of the solitary figure, communing with
the departed spirits of Druids or Mayans, to the cruise-ship
excursions of modern times, where masses of tourists are hustled
through ruins, barely aware of their surroundings. From the Holy
Land to the Silk Road, the Yucatan to Angkor Wat, Fagan follows in
the footsteps of the great archaeological travellers to retrieve
their first written impressions in a book that will delight anyone
fascinated with the landmarks of ancient civilization.
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