Beneath the Sands of Egypt: Adventures of an Unconventional Archaeologist - Hardcover

Ryan, Donald P.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0061732826 ISBN 13: 9780061732829

Publisher: William Morrow & Co, 2010

Synopsis

An archaeologist recounts his adventures discovering the tomb of Egypt's famous female pharaoh, Hatshepsut, in the Valley of the Kings and discusses his experiences becoming an archaeologist and dealing with eccentric colleagues. 25,000 first printing.

About this title

Review:

"An enthusiastically written book for readers from YA to armchair adventure lovers who dream of being archaeologists or Egyptologists."--Library Journal

"Ryan's observations are intimate, frank, and perceptive, and his spirited adventures in underappreciated avenues of exploration are a boon for armchair and budding archaeologists."--Publishers Weekly

"Any writer who can make you interested in old rope is worth reading."--St. Paul Pioneer Press

"An entertaining, illuminating adventure story by a modern-day explorer."--Kirkus Reviews

Don Ryan is a rare bird a field archaeologist who can write with verve and immediacy. I heartily recommend his book to all Egyptology buffs. --Barbara Mertz ( a.k.a. Elizabeth Peters), author of "Temples Tombs, and Hieroglyphs" and "Red Land, Black Land""

This wonderful adventure story should be must reading for anyone aspiring to become an archaeologist, but even those of us who harbor no such dreams will be aching to get a little dirt under our fingernails. --Booklist (starred review)"

An enthusiastically written book for readers from YA to armchair adventure lovers who dream of being archaeologists or Egyptologists. --Library Journal"

Ryan s observations are intimate, frank, and perceptive, and his spirited adventures in underappreciated avenues of exploration are a boon for armchair and budding archaeologists. --Publishers Weekly"

Any writer who can make you interested in old rope is worth reading. --St. Paul Pioneer Press"

An entertaining, illuminating adventure story by a modern-day explorer. --Kirkus Reviews"

From the Back Cover:

From the known to the unknown . . .

With its spectacular temples, tombs, monuments, and mummies, as well as esoteric metaphysics, legendary historical characters, and connections to the Bible, ancient Egypt has enticed the human imagination for centuries. This search for understanding and drive to uncover a lost civilization has also been the life work of archaeologist Donald P. Ryan, Ph.D. In Beneath the Sands of Egypt, he offers an intriguing personal account of a career spent researching the remains of Egypt's past—including his headline-making rediscovery of a lost tomb in the Valley of the Kings containing the mummy of the famous female pharaoh Hatshepsut.

Since his early childhood, Ryan dreamed of exploration and adventure. Inspired by his plastic dinosaurs, his books—including Thor Heyerdahl's Kon Tiki—and his father's National Geographic collection, Ryan was determined to become an archaeologist. It is a quest that has taken him from harsh desert digs to the modern comforts of Europe's finest museums to treacherous Alpine peaks—and into the lives of his archaeological predecessors, gathering insight from obscure documents and, literally, digging in their wake.

Beneath the Sands of Egypt interweaves Ryan's captivating tales from the field with reflections into the arcane world of Egyptology, from the writings of Herodotus to the tools of the trade, the intricacies of obtaining a digging permit to the thrall of popular myths. In addition, Ryan introduces a diverse cast of eccentric colleagues, helpful locals, wily entrepreneurs, and enlightened benefactors who have touched his life, including the legendary Thor Heyerdahl, Ryan's childhood hero who eventually became his friend, mentor, and boss. Throughout, Ryan adds his unique touch, reminding us how an artifact as seemingly insignificant as a piece of rope can unlock invaluable insights and offer its own wonderful tale.

Infused with the irrepressible curiosity that has fueled Ryan's journey, Beneath the Sands of Egypt is the extraordinary story of a man who has spent a lifetime embracing adventure whenever—and wherever—he finds it.

About this edition

• Publisher: William Morrow & Co
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0061732826
• ISBN 13: 9780061732829
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 284