Three Stones Make a Wall

The Story of Archaeology

By: Eric H. Cline

Narrated by: LJ Ganser

From the best-selling author of 1177 B.C., a comprehensive history of archaeology - from its amateur beginnings to the cutting-edge science it is today.

In 1922, Howard Carter peered into Tutankhamun's tomb for the first time, the only light coming from the candle in his outstretched hand. Urged to tell what he was seeing through the small opening he had cut in the door to the tomb, the Egyptologist famously replied, "I see wonderful things". Carter's fabulous discovery is just one of the many spellbinding stories told in Three Stones Make a Wall.

Written by Eric Cline, an archaeologist with more than 30 seasons of excavation experience, Three Stones Make a Wall traces the history of archaeology from an amateur pursuit to the cutting-edge science it is today by taking the listener on a tour of major archaeological sites and discoveries, from Pompeii to Petra, Troy to the Terracotta Warriors, and Mycenae to Megiddo and Masada. Cline brings to life the personalities behind these digs, including Heinrich Schliemann, the former businessman who excavated Troy, and Mary Leakey, whose discoveries advanced our understanding of human origins. The discovery of the peoples and civilizations of the past is presented in vivid detail, from the Hittites and Minoans to the Inca, Aztec, and Moche. Along the way, the book addresses the questions archaeologists are asked most often: How do you know where to dig? How are excavations actually done? How do you know how old something is? Who gets to keep what is found?

Taking listeners from the pioneering digs of the 18th century to the exciting new discoveries being made today, Three Stones Make a Wall is a lively and essential introduction to the story of archaeology.

©2017 Princeton University Press (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Great Overview!

This was a great overview of the history of archaeology and also discusses the basic methodology that archaeologists deal with in their work. Highly recommended.

archaeology made interesting!

This was quite a find. The author gives the basics of archaeology and hits many of the highlights from the archaeology world.

Solid, but still disappointed

Didn't grab me as I'd hoped. The chapters sometimes had interesting nuggets, but not exciting.

Always great!

Dr. Cline is engaging and funny. If you want to know about archaeology, he’s the guy! Makes a complex topic easy and enjoyable.

Excellent book and reasonably up to date

The author mentions finds and updates from up to 2016 which is nice. Overall very interesting.

A bit light

1177BC was wonderful and more of what I was after. This survey of "greatest hits" is closer to a light introduction, perhaps a high school text. Worth writing but a little less worth reading.

Disappointing.

I found this book profoundly disappointing. There was much less information on techniques and principles than I expected based on the description. If you’re looking for a high level overview of the history of archaeology I suppose it’s fine. It did not meet my expectations.

Some shallow digs into archaeology

First, there is almost nothing about the actual history of archaeology. A few old names are dropped and some tidbits about famous finds are given. The author is a hardened academic elitist and a sub par writer. This book reads like a stack of print outs of wikipedia pages. There is very little insight and no original ideas. Unless you know absolute nothing about archaeology and don't mind a waft of smug, pass.