Archaeology in Fiction, Stories, and Novels
Another way archaeology is inflicted upon the general public's consciousness is through short stories and novels. Many authors have used archaeologists as heroes, as villains, and as gormless fools who clutter up the landscape. Here's a selection of my favorites.
Archaeology in Fiction
Sometimes the best way to enjoy and learn about archaeology is to sit curled up in a comfy chair and read a good novel. You are in luck! There are many novelists who find the world of archaeology and archaeologists of interest to a good plot.
Sometimes the best way to enjoy and learn about archaeology is to sit curled up in a comfy chair and read a good novel. You are in luck! There are many novelists who find the world of archaeology and archaeologists of interest to a good plot.
Novel
A book review of Global Dawn, a fictional telling of the beginnings of the Digital Earth Project.
A book review of Global Dawn, a fictional telling of the beginnings of the Digital Earth Project.
Space Archaeology
Space Archaeology is a new website at the intersection of extraplanetary science and archaeology, designed for science fiction fans and visionaries who are interested in what alien archaeology might be like.
Space Archaeology is a new website at the intersection of extraplanetary science and archaeology, designed for science fiction fans and visionaries who are interested in what alien archaeology might be like.
Social Science Fiction
Social science fiction is the name Ursula leGuin gave to the kind of science fiction that absorbs and discusses anthropology and the study of human kind. Needless to say, this is one of my favorite kinds of scifi.
Social science fiction is the name Ursula leGuin gave to the kind of science fiction that absorbs and discusses anthropology and the study of human kind. Needless to say, this is one of my favorite kinds of scifi.
The Sea Kings: The Prophecy
This first book in Les Cole's Sea King Trilogy is an exciting, detailed romance of the high seas of the Mediterranean Sea during the Bronze Age. The hero, Tanuati, a selfish Cretan lout, wanders around the sea picking up knowledge and girls at about the same rate. An entertaining way to spend an afternoon.
This first book in Les Cole's Sea King Trilogy is an exciting, detailed romance of the high seas of the Mediterranean Sea during the Bronze Age. The hero, Tanuati, a selfish Cretan lout, wanders around the sea picking up knowledge and girls at about the same rate. An entertaining way to spend an afternoon.
Archaeo-fiction
The term fiction, in archaeology and elsewhere, refers to a piece of literature or other creative work that's wholly invented by the author.
The term fiction, in archaeology and elsewhere, refers to a piece of literature or other creative work that's wholly invented by the author.
The Egyptologist - A Book Review
Arthur Phillips' The Egyptologist is blackly funny, evocative of both the roaring twenties of Boston and the working conditions of the Valley of the Kings under the British, and I highly recommend it to anybody looking for a good, absorbing, funny adult novel.
Arthur Phillips' The Egyptologist is blackly funny, evocative of both the roaring twenties of Boston and the working conditions of the Valley of the Kings under the British, and I highly recommend it to anybody looking for a good, absorbing, funny adult novel.
The English Patient
The mysterious English patient, an archaeologist and mapmaker, reveals his story bit by bit to a sympathetic nurse in this best-selling novel by Michael Ondaatje.
The mysterious English patient, an archaeologist and mapmaker, reveals his story bit by bit to a sympathetic nurse in this best-selling novel by Michael Ondaatje.
The Deserter: Murder at Gettysburg
A new book by mystery writer Jane Langton crosses into the Civil War to track down an ancient case of identity theft.
A new book by mystery writer Jane Langton crosses into the Civil War to track down an ancient case of identity theft.
The Three Unknowns
A science fiction story involving an Oxford archaeologist, some nasty politics, and an archaeological site on Mars. By Severna Park on scifi.com.
A science fiction story involving an Oxford archaeologist, some nasty politics, and an archaeological site on Mars. By Severna Park on scifi.com.
People of the Raven
On its website, Archaeology magazine has posted a piece of the new Michael and Kathleen Gear novel, "People of the Raven". This writing pair has done a great deal to bring ancient peoples to life, and it's always nice to get a sneak preview.
On its website, Archaeology magazine has posted a piece of the new Michael and Kathleen Gear novel, "People of the Raven". This writing pair has done a great deal to bring ancient peoples to life, and it's always nice to get a sneak preview.
Anita Cohen-Williams: Archaeology in Fiction
An archaeologist/librarian, Anita Cohen-Williams has collected hundreds of bibliographic references to novels about archaeology or archaeologists, and placed this amazing list on the web.
An archaeologist/librarian, Anita Cohen-Williams has collected hundreds of bibliographic references to novels about archaeology or archaeologists, and placed this amazing list on the web.
Timeline (Michael Crichton)
The Medieval site of Castelgard is being excavated, when the director is called back to the states to have a chat with his financier. After he is gone, the students discover incontrovertible evidence that the poor old archaeologist has actually traveled through time to the 14th century and now needs rescuing.
The Medieval site of Castelgard is being excavated, when the director is called back to the states to have a chat with his financier. After he is gone, the students discover incontrovertible evidence that the poor old archaeologist has actually traveled through time to the 14th century and now needs rescuing.
Summertime Reading - Archaeology
When it's summer, it's hot, at least on the north half of the planet. If you can't be out digging holes, perhaps you can curl up with an archaeologically-correct novel and a huge pitcher of iced tea. The following are some of my favorite novels about archaeology and archaeologists.
When it's summer, it's hot, at least on the north half of the planet. If you can't be out digging holes, perhaps you can curl up with an archaeologically-correct novel and a huge pitcher of iced tea. The following are some of my favorite novels about archaeology and archaeologists.
Social Science Fiction
Four science fiction writers (Suzette Hayden Elgin, Ursula LeGuin, Octavia Butler, and Kate Wilhelm) practice a little anthropology.
Four science fiction writers (Suzette Hayden Elgin, Ursula LeGuin, Octavia Butler, and Kate Wilhelm) practice a little anthropology.