The Search for El Dorado

by Time-Life Books, Dale Brown (Editor)

Looks at the history and culture of early South American peoples, including the Chavin, the Moche, the Paracas, and the Nazca, and tells the stories of those who sought their gold

Genres: History, Nonfiction

168 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Little Timmy]

Another great Time life read. Always something to learn from these books. Recommended

[Himanshu Inamdar]

The Search for El Dorado is a nearly perfect example of what a book of this genre should be. Packed with information, photographs, descriptions, timelines, and hypotheses on some debated topics with arguments on both sides, the book provides a concise overview of the various cultures of South America that are often overshadowed by just a few major examples, such as the Aztecs, Mayas, and Incas.

The presentation of the information is clear and unbiased. The book does not shy away from talking about the destruction of innumerable objects by the invading Spaniards and later on grave-robbers, and the extent to which they have held back archaeological progress, unlike some other examples where the destruction of artifacts by white colonisers is glossed over and only the modern-day neglect (if applicable) by the respective countries and their museums is talked about as a factor impeding scientific progress.

The photographs and the detailed descriptions and theories about what various objects might possibly represent as also the connections with other artifacts, cultural functions, and similarities are the highlight of the book. A few photographs of archaeological sites with maps are also included for the reader to appreciate the effort that must have gone into the construction of the sites as well as their exploration. Descriptions of the processes used for the creation of various artistic objects are also presented in detail, such as paintings, pottery, metalwork, and weaving. These factors add even more life into what is already a well-researched book.

An extremely minor quibble about the book is that the font selection and size seems inconsistent at points, which is a fairly rare occurrence in modern books. Overall, the book is an excellent introduction for readers into the cultures of the Americas beyond the obvious examples and also a possible gateway into more reading with a comprehensive bibliography given at the end.

[Henry Kline]

A great review of pre-Columbian, South American cultures that I really knew no more than their name and little bits of culture. And as always, with Time-Life books, the pictures of the artwork were a great addition.