Footsteps: Nine Archaeological Journeys of Romance and Discovery

In this companion volume to a TV series of the same name, BBC-TV producer Norman traces the journeys undertaken by nine men who ushered in the romantic era of archeology in the 19th century. None was a technically trained ""digger''; each was motivated by the lure of the past, the search for legendary ``lost'' cities and the enduring mysteries of our ancient forbears. Among them are Europeans and Americans of widely varied backgrounds. Giovanni Belzoni, once a circus strong man, cut his way into the Valley of the Kings, dismantled the magnificent tombs of ancient Egypt, making the British Museum a proud custodian. Karl Mauch's apparent discovery of King Solomon's mines and the home of the Queen of Sheba in Zimbabwe incited furious controversy in the scientific community. An American cowboy, Richard Wetherill, found the unique cliff villages of ancient Indians in the deserts of the Southwest. In following the careers of these adventurers, Norman traces the slow development of archeology as a science and makes us privy to the great moments that are incredibly hard-earned and sadly fleeting. Illustrations. Macmillan Natural Science Book Club main selection; History Book Club selection. (March)