Stealing History: Tomb Raiders, Smugglers, and the Looting of the Ancient WorldRoger Atwood knows more about the market for ancient objects than almost anyone. He knows where priceless antiquities are buried, who is digging them up, and who is fencing and buying them. In this fascinating book, Atwood takes readers on a journey through Iraq, Peru, Hong Kong, and across America, showing how the worldwide antiquities trade is destroying what's left of the ancient sites before archaeologists can reach them, and thus erasing their historical significance. And it is getting worse. The discovery of the legendary Royal Tombs of Sipan in Peru started an epidemic. Grave robbers scouring the courntryside for tombs--and finding them. Atwood recounts the incredible story of the biggest piece of gold ever found in the Americas, a 2,000-year-old, three-pound masterpiece that cost one looter his life, sent two smugglers to jail, and wrecked lives from Panama to Pennsylvainia. Packed with true stories, this book not only reveals what has been found, but at what cost to both human life and history. |
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STEALING HISTORY: Tomb Raiders, Smugglers, and the Looting of the Ancient World
User Review - KirkusArt journalist Atwood outlines the systematic destruction of archaeological sites, concentrating on Peru."Looting robs a country of its heritage, but, even worse, it destroys everyone's ability to ... Read full review
Stealing history: tomb raiders, smugglers, and the looting of the ancient world
User Review - Not Available - Book VerdictThe rise of appreciation for non-European culture in the Western Hemisphere has pumped up market demand for Latin American, Near Eastern, and African antiquities. Many a private collection is filled ... Read full review
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Stealing History: Tomb Raiders, Smugglers, and the Looting of the Ancient World Roger Atwood No preview available - 2006 |