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"The world was astonished when American Egyptologist Kent Weeks discovered an elaborate tomb deep beneath the surface of Egypt's legendary Valley of the Kings. Soon he realized that this was the centuries-old burial site for the sons of Ramesses II. Previous to this discovery, no one had been certain where - or even if - this spectacular tomb existed. Now, in The Lost Tomb, Weeks takes readers into the largest and most complicated mausoleum yet found, unlocking age-old mysteries of Egyptian history. His insider's account of this significant archaeological find is paired with an unforgettable sense of adventure and awe." "Drawing on his own diaries, as well as those of his wife and foreman, Weeks brings to life the excitement and risks that he and his team encountered during the dig, including floods, scorpions, claustrophobia, and terrorist attacks. Photographs and sketches illustrate the crew's progress in uncovering KV 5 (as the tomb is called) and show the wealth of objects and decorations found in its more than one hundred fifty chambers and hallways. Weeks also provides a fascinating close-up of how an archaeologist works, revealing the tools and guesswork involved in finding such an elusive tomb - and the perhaps more complex task of evaluating the wall paintings and texts discovered within."--… (more)
User reviews
The discovery of
There has been no find in the Valley of the Kings as significant as this since Howard Carter found Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922. -The Lost Tomb- is the story of that discovery and Weeks' role in it.
The book is absorbing. Weeks writes much as he speaks, with the same enthusiasm for his topic as he has shown in interviews. He is meticulous in his descriptions, and able to back up his conclusions because of his long work in Egyptology.
This is a splendid book. Weeks writes almost as well as he discovers and digs. He has shown himself to be an excellent, enthusiastic teacher of things Egyptian, and I'm happy to recommend this to others.
Also, take note of the fact that Weeks was also the leader of the multi-year project, the Theban Mapping Project, to map the Valley tombs to create an complete atlas. If you're as much of an Egyptophile as I, you may want to find a copy of it. He was also co-author of X-Raying the Pharoahs.