
audiobook
by H. R. (Harry Reginald) Hall, L. W. (Leonard William) King
This volume offers a vivid snapshot of the most exciting archaeological breakthroughs of the early twentieth century across Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia and the surrounding regions. The authors, who personally surveyed the sites and captured many of the photographs, guide listeners through over a thousand colour plates that bring ancient ruins and delicate artefacts to life.
Organised geographically rather than chronologically, the work highlights how fresh excavations have reshaped our understanding of the earliest civilizations. From the unveiling of a Neolithic Egyptian culture and the discovery of proto‑Elamite layers at Susa, to newly uncovered royal tombs that clarify the connections between Egypt’s first dynasties and their Mesopotamian neighbours, the book presents the evidence that is rewriting the opening chapters of human history. Listeners will gain a clear sense of how each find fits into the broader tapestry of ancient life, without venturing beyond the initial phases of discovery.
Language
en
Duration
~11 hours (651K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2006-07-08
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1873–1930
An Egyptologist and Assyriologist at the British Museum, he helped bring the ancient Near East to a wide reading public through lively books on Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the wider ancient world. His writing blends careful scholarship with the excitement of discovery, making early archaeology feel immediate and human.
View all books1869–1919
An early explorer of the ancient Near East, this British Assyriologist helped bring Babylonian myths, cuneiform texts, and Mesopotamian history to a wider English-speaking audience. His books blend close scholarship with a real sense of discovery.
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