Three Stones Make a Wall

Eric H. Cline is professor of classics and anthropology and director of the Capitol Archaeological Institute at George Washington University. An active archaeologist, he has excavated and surveyed in Greece, Crete, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and the United States. His many books include 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed (Princeton).

"Intensely readable... Cline is a winning spokesman for his field, with a warm and generous voice evocative of the best university lectures... More than a few readers may feel a sudden urge to rush out to a nearby mound or midden, with spade and trowel in hand."--James Romm, Wall Street Journal "Eric Cline ... doesn't disappoint in his terrific new book."--Steve Donoghue, The National "Wonderfully engaging... Archaeology has developed over the last two centuries into one of the great human sciences. It steadily expands the known history of humans on earth and thickens our knowledge of human diversity. Cline is fortunate to be a leader in this remarkable profession and readers are lucky that he knows how to write about it with precision and joy."--Robert Fulford, National Post "This ambitious project is to be warmly welcomed. [Cline] writes clearly, informatively and enthusiastically and tells a good story, often illuminated by personal experiences from working on site... As a general, up-to-date and excellent value introduction to the world of archaeology and the past it reveals, it can be counted a success."--Peter Jones, Classics for All "Enjoyable and wide-ranging."--Andrew Robinson, New Scientist "Eric Cline is a seasoned archaeologist, and he makes history come alive in this nonfiction look at some of the greatest archaeological discoveries ever made. From Pompeii to Troy, Cline gives an insider look at these famous digs, blending history and science in a way that's guaranteed to keep your attention from the first page. Not only does he take you through the history of the discovery itself, but he also shows you exactly how the dig was managed in the first place. If you've ever wondered how archaeologists function - from where to dig, how to do it, or what comes next - then you'll want to pick up a copy of Three Stones Make a Wall as soon as you possibly can."--Rachel Carter, BookTrib "The seasoned anthropologist-adventurer Eric H. Cline does his best to re-burnish the lost glow of archaeology by collecting several stories of remarkable discoveries in a single well-written volume. The book goes a long way toward reviving the idea that the past, rather than being buried and gone, is the last and greatest frontier of human exploration."--New Criterion "A well-turned, five-point guide to archaeological inquiry... [The book] tenders a broad, fleshy survey of archaeology's history and big finds, as well as the bones and sinews that make the field so fundamental to our human story. Cline's enthusiasm is a force of nature, just bridled enough to pause and consider certain critical genetic sequences in the strands of archaeology's DNA, those that fashioned the field's chromatic stories and venerable truths."--Peter Lewis, Minneapolis Star Tribune "A fun, informative, and scholarly read."--Frank Freeman, Washington Free Beacon "[A] gripping tale of archaeology's greatest wonders."--Simon Caterson, Sydney Morning Herald

• List of Illustrations vii Preface: A Petrified Monkey's Paw xi Prologue: "Wonderful Things": King Tut and His Tomb 1 Part 1 Early Archaeology and Archaeologists 1 Ashes to Ashes in Ancient Italy 13 2 Digging Up Troy 24 3 From Egypt to Eternity 38 4 Mysteries in Mesopotamia 52 5 Exploring the Jungles of Central America 66 Digging Deeper 1: How Do You Know Where to Dig? 80 Part 2 Africa, Europe, and the Levant: Early Hominins to Farmers 6 Discovering Our Earliest Ancestors 97 7 First Farmers in the Fertile Crescent 115 Part 3 Excavating the Bronze Age Aegean 8 Revealing the First Greeks 131 9 Finding Atlantis? 146 10 Enchantment Under the Sea 157 Part 4 Uncovering the Classics 11 From Discus-Throwing to Democracy 171 12 What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us? 188 Digging Deeper 2: How Do You Know How to Dig? 204 Part 5 Discoveries in the Holy Land and Beyond 13 Excavating Armageddon 221 14 Unearthing the Bible 234 15 Mystery at Masada 245 16 Cities of the Desert 257 Digging Deeper 3: How Old Is This and Why Is It Preserved? 269 Part 6 New World Archaeology 17 Lines in the Sand, Cities in the Sky 291 18 Giant Heads, Feathered Serpents, and Golden Eagles 303 19 Submarines and Settlers; Gold Coins and Lead Bullets 314 Digging Deeper 4: Do You Get to Keep What You Find? 326 Epilogue: Back to the Future 333 Acknowledgments 341 Notes 343 Bibliography 383 Index 431