author
Percy S. P. (Percy Stuart Peache) Handcock
A British scholar of the ancient Near East, he wrote clear, wide-ranging books that introduced general readers to Mesopotamian archaeology, Babylonian law, and the literature of the ancient world. His work helped bring early archaeological discoveries into reach for non-specialists.
1 Audiobook
Mesopotamian Archaeology An introduction to the archaeology of Mesopotamia and Assyria
by Percy S. P. (Percy Stuart Peache) Handcock
About the author
Percy Stuart Peache Handcock was an English barrister and a British Museum employee who also built a reputation as a writer on the ancient Near East. Records gathered by Wikimedia projects identify him as an English barrister and museum employee, and note that he died in 1927.
He is best known for books such as Mesopotamian Archaeology, The Code of Hammurabi, and Selections from the Tell el-Amarna Letters. These works show his interest in making the history, languages, and discoveries of Babylonia and Assyria accessible to a wider audience.
Handcock wrote in the early 20th century, at a time when archaeological finds from Mesopotamia were capturing broad public interest. His books reflect that moment: scholarly in subject, but often shaped as introductions for curious readers rather than specialists alone.