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Ancient Egypt: The Great Discoveries
A history of ancient Egypt is revealed by the great archaeological discoveries that brought to life the people, art, culture, and society of the great civilization, from the pre-dynastic period to the Graeco-Roman era, detailing such finds as the Rosetta Stone, the pyramids, the tomb of Tutankhamun, and many more. 12,000 first printing.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 23, 2000
About the author
Nicholas Reeves
29 books18 followersCarl Nicholas Reeves (born 28 September 1956) is an English Egyptologist best known for his archaeological work in and writings on the Valley of the Kings. He is currently Sylvan C. Coleman and Pamela Coleman Memorial Fellow for 2010/11 in the Department of Egyptian Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See other authors with similar names.
Background
A specialist in Egyptian history and material culture, Reeves is a graduate (first class honours) in Ancient History from University College London (1979). He received his Ph.D. in Egyptology (Studies in the Archaeology of the Valley of the Kings, with Particular Reference to Tomb Robbery and the Caching of the Royal Mummies) from Durham University in 1984.
He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1994, and an Honorary Fellow of the Oriental Museum, Durham University in 1996. Between 1998 and 2004 he was Honorary Research Fellow in the Institute of Archaeology, University College London.
Museums
Reeves has been active in various museum and heritage roles, including: Curator in the former Department of Egyptian Antiquities at the British Museum (initiating the Survey of Egyptian Collections in the UK - now an important component of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council Cornucopia database) (1984–1991); Curator to the seventh Earl of Carnarvon at Highclere Castle (1988–1998); Curatorial Consultant on Egyptian antiquities to the Freud Museum, London 1986-2006); Honorary Curator and Director of Collections for the Denys Eyre Bower Bequest at Chiddingstone Castle, Kent (1995–2002 and 2003–2007); and G.A.D. Tait Curator of Egyptian and Classical Art at Eton College (2000–2010).
Archaeology
Between 1998 and 2002 Reeves worked in the field as Director of the Amarna Royal Tombs Project in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, undertaking four seasons of survey and excavation with an international team in search of evidence for the missing burials of the women of Akhenaten's court. The first stratigraphic excavation of the Valley ever attempted, among the features pinpointed (during the project's 2000 radar survey) was KV-63, subsequently excavated by Otto Schaden then working for the University of Memphis.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See other authors with similar names.
Background
A specialist in Egyptian history and material culture, Reeves is a graduate (first class honours) in Ancient History from University College London (1979). He received his Ph.D. in Egyptology (Studies in the Archaeology of the Valley of the Kings, with Particular Reference to Tomb Robbery and the Caching of the Royal Mummies) from Durham University in 1984.
He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1994, and an Honorary Fellow of the Oriental Museum, Durham University in 1996. Between 1998 and 2004 he was Honorary Research Fellow in the Institute of Archaeology, University College London.
Museums
Reeves has been active in various museum and heritage roles, including: Curator in the former Department of Egyptian Antiquities at the British Museum (initiating the Survey of Egyptian Collections in the UK - now an important component of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council Cornucopia database) (1984–1991); Curator to the seventh Earl of Carnarvon at Highclere Castle (1988–1998); Curatorial Consultant on Egyptian antiquities to the Freud Museum, London 1986-2006); Honorary Curator and Director of Collections for the Denys Eyre Bower Bequest at Chiddingstone Castle, Kent (1995–2002 and 2003–2007); and G.A.D. Tait Curator of Egyptian and Classical Art at Eton College (2000–2010).
Archaeology
Between 1998 and 2002 Reeves worked in the field as Director of the Amarna Royal Tombs Project in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, undertaking four seasons of survey and excavation with an international team in search of evidence for the missing burials of the women of Akhenaten's court. The first stratigraphic excavation of the Valley ever attempted, among the features pinpointed (during the project's 2000 radar survey) was KV-63, subsequently excavated by Otto Schaden then working for the University of Memphis.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 22, 2020
This book is packed with information -- in chronological order -- about all of the “great discoveries” in Egypt. The book includes a wealth of photographs and illustrations of both the finds and the Egyptologists at work. I found it very slow going primarily because of the layout. Most pages include both the running narrative (very dry) of the period or subject being covered, as well as multiple illustrations/photographs with separate text about the photographs, making it very hard to follow the narrative.
After a while I found myself simply looking at the photographs and trying to follow the main narrative text. I think this will serve as a great reference book but doesn’t really lend itself to a straight read. This is very hard to rate. As a straight "read" I would probably give it a D+ (some sections are better than others). But as a wonderful, beautiful reference book that I'll probably go back to repeatedly for more information about specific sites, I would give it an A+. So, I'm going to rate it a B- overall or four stars here.
After a while I found myself simply looking at the photographs and trying to follow the main narrative text. I think this will serve as a great reference book but doesn’t really lend itself to a straight read. This is very hard to rate. As a straight "read" I would probably give it a D+ (some sections are better than others). But as a wonderful, beautiful reference book that I'll probably go back to repeatedly for more information about specific sites, I would give it an A+. So, I'm going to rate it a B- overall or four stars here.
May 13, 2012
Wonderfully compiled reference book with an abundance of colour photos. Not just a list of discoveries, but works also as a coherent story of the development of archaeological conventions in digging up ancient objects.
November 17, 2008
An amazing compilation - and a beautiful book!
February 6, 2026
A very nice book! very informative, a lot of images to accompany the text. I would recommend it for any Ancient Egypt nerd.
December 30, 2012
Excellent overview about the big discoveries in Egypt from 1799 onwards.
Very good timelies/chronology, maps showing key places, lots of photos and diagrams. Main text engagingly written, key items and artifcats described.
Book split into main sections: 1798-1850; 1850-81; 1881-1914; 1914-45; post 1945. Within each secton each chapter highlights discoveries in a specific year.
Very good timelies/chronology, maps showing key places, lots of photos and diagrams. Main text engagingly written, key items and artifcats described.
Book split into main sections: 1798-1850; 1850-81; 1881-1914; 1914-45; post 1945. Within each secton each chapter highlights discoveries in a specific year.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews