Anne Millard, Richard Rockwood. The New Book of . Brookfeld, Conn.: Copper Beech Books, 1998. 32 pp. $25.90, library, ISBN 978-0-7613-0859-1.

Reviewed by Alexandra O'Brien

Published on H-AfrTeach (March, 1999)

In recent years the feld of , and in‐ for H-Net) though I'm not entirely happy with the deed archaeology in general, has begun to make design of the book. use of technological innovations in studying an‐ After an introduction of two pages, the book cient artifacts and sites. Archaeology is essentially is divided into three unnamed chapters which a destructive process as it dismantles the very further divide into sections in the following man‐ sites it seeks to reconstruct, however new tech‐ ner: Chapter one: The Lost Tomb (Kings' Valley niques such as aerial photography, surface sur‐ Tomb 5 excavated by Kent Weeks), Avaris, Capital veys and magnetometry mean we can now learn of the Hyksos (Tell ed-Dab'a excavated by Man‐ almost as much about a site by looking at it as we fred Bietak), Feuding Families (on Hatshepsut and can by excavation. Similar non-destructive tech‐ Tuthmosis III), Abydos, the Royal Cemetery, The niques are now available for use with artifacts Tombs of Saqqara (the tombs of Horemheb and and human remains; x-rays were already used Maya ); Chapter two: Finding Pharaohs (Hiero‐ earlier in the century to study mummies without glyphs, Modern Excavations and ), unwrapping them, now far more information can Underwater Treasures (Alexandria and the be gained using MRIs and CAT scans which pro‐ Ptolemies, underwater archaeology), Saving His‐ vide enough data to reconstruct not only the en‐ tory (moving Philae and Abu Simbel, restoring the tirety of an unwrapped mummy but also the ap‐ Sphinx, Nefertari, tourism), Rebuilding the Past pearance in life of the individual concerned. Dr. (CAT scans/x-rays of mummies, aerial photogra‐ Millard's colorful book aims to introduce exam‐ phy, CAD reconstructions); Chapter three: The ples of both new techniques used in Egyptian ar‐ Lost Wife (Akhenaten, Kings' Valley Tomb 55, Kiya chaeology as well as the latest discoveries in the and Tutankhamun), The Female King (Nefertiti feld. Dr. Millard is an Egyptologist and certainly and Smenkhare, reconstructing Akhenaten and knows the material and one cannot fnd fault in Nefertiti's temples at Karnak), Living in the City the accuracy of the content (as has sadly been the (Amarna, reconstruction of life at Akhetaten and case with a few other of the books I've reviewed H-Net Reviews other settlements, beer production), Building the but this has not happened here. The timeline is Pyramids (reconstructions of pyramids and build‐ certainly woefully lacking, why pick only fve ing them). These are followed by a Glossary and events and place them seemingly randomly on a Timeline. The glossary explains twenty-one words pyramid graphic? A more straightforward time‐ and concepts used in the text, and the timeline line laying out a larger number (perhaps a dozen) highlights fve events relating to the modern re‐ signifcant events in Egyptology in a coherent discovery of . The Index is more de‐ chronological order would have been more help‐ tailed and lists all major individuals, concepts and ful to the readers. The index is on the other hand places discussed in the book. much more useful and greatly enhances the book. The introduction includes a brief history of However, there is no list of further reading, a Egypt, setting out the historical periods into which most surprising and sad omission: having intro‐ modern scholars divide the history. Here these di‐ duced the reader to many interesting facts and visions are represented as if they were made by techniques in very brief fashion no suggestions the Egyptians themselves which is not the case; are made as to where the reader might go to fnd the divisions into Archaic Period, Old, Middle and more information on a topic. New Kingdoms and the Intermediate Periods are The book succeeds in introducing many excit‐ entirely modern and it's surprising that Dr. Mil‐ ing new discoveries and techniques to the reader lard would have let such a thing slip. The chapters but each of these are treated in one or two para‐ are without headings and are not clearly defned graphs, almost like "sound bites" from a kids' TV in the book, however on reading the work the au‐ show and one couldn't help wanting more infor‐ thor's intention becomes apparent. Chapter one mation than was provided. The illustrations are deals with recent discoveries in Egyptian archae‐ good, especially the computer-assisted reconstruc‐ ology, best known of which will be Kent Weeks' tions of some of the more damaged or destroyed excavation of KV5, the tomb of the sons of sites, such as Nefertiti's temple in Karnak (pp. Ramesses II. Chapter two highlights modern 24-25), Tuthmosis III's temple at Deir el Bahari means of rediscovering ancient Egyptian culture and tombs at Saqqara (pp. 10-13). However the and history, primarily the decipherment of the crowded nature of the book at times obscures use‐ languages involved, underwater archaeology and ful graphics (e.g. the Pharos, pp. 16-17). According restoration of the surviving remains (especially to Amazon this book is aimed at 9-12 year-olds but the tomb of Nefertari and the Sphinx). Finally, is more appropriate for 8-10 years as the book is a Chapter three looks at new techniques for study‐ little too superfcial for older children (a reading ing the past (CAT scans, aerial photography and list is also necessary for 11 and 12 year-olds). computer-assisted drawing). Each topic is briefy $24.90 seems expensive for this book, though discussed in one or two paragraphs accompanied at $9.95 for the less durable version it is reason‐ generously by illustrations, thus the author man‐ able value. I recommend the book as its generous ages to cram in a great deal of concepts and tech‐ illustrations are eye-catching and will inspire the niques into these thirty-two pages although at the child-reader's imagination, although when they cost (I feel) of satisfactorily explaining much of read this book they'll need additional resources the material introduced. The inclusion of a glos‐ on ancient Egypt . sary and timeline gave the potential for redress‐ Copyright (c) 1999 by H-Net, all rights re‐ ing this imbalance, they should have served as the served. This work may be copied for non-proft place to gather together concepts discussed in the educational use if proper credit is given to the au‐ book and provide a handy reference for the school-age children at whom the book is aimed,

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Citation: Alexandra O'Brien. Review of Millard, Anne; Rockwood, Richard. The New Book of Pharaohs. H- AfrTeach, H-Net Reviews. March, 1999.

URL: https://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=2927

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