Secrets of the Sands: The Revelations of Egypt
In a part of Egypt so parched that decades might pass between rainstorms, amid a sea of sand, is a green island—Dakhleh, the “everlasting oasis”—that may contain the whole of human history. In this extraordinary book, an acclaimed science writer and journalist follows an international team of archaeologists as they unlock the secrets of nearly half a million years. Using high-tech methods, these scientists have made stunning finds, including indications that Dakhleh may have been the cradle of the Nile civilization that gave rise to the pharaohs and the pyramids.

They have unearthed a perfect Old Kingdom town, with palaces and temples from the Golden Age, huge caches of mummies and papyri, and the world's two oldest books, and have located an entire Roman city—a Pompeii in the middle of the desert. Blending elements of adventure narrative, travelogue, and scientific mystery, Secrets of the Sands also traces on a grand historical scale the story of how humans have interacted with the changing environment, laying bare a parable with relevance to us all about the fragile balance between humankind and our world.
1111032932
Secrets of the Sands: The Revelations of Egypt
In a part of Egypt so parched that decades might pass between rainstorms, amid a sea of sand, is a green island—Dakhleh, the “everlasting oasis”—that may contain the whole of human history. In this extraordinary book, an acclaimed science writer and journalist follows an international team of archaeologists as they unlock the secrets of nearly half a million years. Using high-tech methods, these scientists have made stunning finds, including indications that Dakhleh may have been the cradle of the Nile civilization that gave rise to the pharaohs and the pyramids.

They have unearthed a perfect Old Kingdom town, with palaces and temples from the Golden Age, huge caches of mummies and papyri, and the world's two oldest books, and have located an entire Roman city—a Pompeii in the middle of the desert. Blending elements of adventure narrative, travelogue, and scientific mystery, Secrets of the Sands also traces on a grand historical scale the story of how humans have interacted with the changing environment, laying bare a parable with relevance to us all about the fragile balance between humankind and our world.
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Secrets of the Sands: The Revelations of Egypt

Secrets of the Sands: The Revelations of Egypt

by Harry Thurston
Secrets of the Sands: The Revelations of Egypt

Secrets of the Sands: The Revelations of Egypt

by Harry Thurston

eBook

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Overview

In a part of Egypt so parched that decades might pass between rainstorms, amid a sea of sand, is a green island—Dakhleh, the “everlasting oasis”—that may contain the whole of human history. In this extraordinary book, an acclaimed science writer and journalist follows an international team of archaeologists as they unlock the secrets of nearly half a million years. Using high-tech methods, these scientists have made stunning finds, including indications that Dakhleh may have been the cradle of the Nile civilization that gave rise to the pharaohs and the pyramids.

They have unearthed a perfect Old Kingdom town, with palaces and temples from the Golden Age, huge caches of mummies and papyri, and the world's two oldest books, and have located an entire Roman city—a Pompeii in the middle of the desert. Blending elements of adventure narrative, travelogue, and scientific mystery, Secrets of the Sands also traces on a grand historical scale the story of how humans have interacted with the changing environment, laying bare a parable with relevance to us all about the fragile balance between humankind and our world.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781611458480
Publisher: Arcade Publishing
Publication date: 12/18/2012
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 400
File size: 3 MB

About the Author

Harry Thurston is a poet and award-winning journalist and author on science and environmental issues. He has written twelve books and scores of articles in more than thirty magazines, including National Geographic and Audubon.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ix

Prologue 1

Part I Island of the Blessed

1 The Other Egypt 6

Part II The Garden: c.400,000 - 12,000 b.p.

2 Everlasting Oasis 34

3 The Garden 55

Part III Crossers of the Sand: 12,000 - 4000 b.p.

4 The Great Stone Ring 72

5 A Gift of the Desert 93

6 Crossers of the Sand 120

Part IV Lords of the West: c.2700 - 332 b.c.

7 Lords of the West 140

8 New Light on the Old Kingdom 161

9 A Tale of Woe 183

Part V A Curse of Sand and Salt: 332 b.c. - 700

10 The Romans are Coming 210

11 A Desert Pompeii 233

12 Skin of the Gods 259

13 Signs of the Cross 279

14 A Curse of Sand and Salt 300

Part VI The Lost Oasis: 700 -

15 The Lost Oasis 316

16 The New Valley 340

17 History's Lessons 355

Epilogue 371

Bibliography 373

Index 384

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