Digging to the Past: Excavations in Ancient Lands

Exploring the lifestyles of ancient peoples requires the talents of a variety of professionals, from trained archeologists and physical scientists, to artists and photographers. In this ambitious book, Hackwell takes his readers on an actual dig in the Middle East, beginning with the early, conceptual stages, detailing the surveying and excavation of the site, and concluding with a discussion of the processing and cataloguing of the finds. Though Hackwell's fine illustrations add warmth and a sense of reality to the text, much of the writing is overly technical. There are some fascinating glimpses into ancient history, but the writing style is perhaps too dry and formal for the book to be of general interest, though it has appeal for budding archeologists. (8-12)