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In exploring these and other historical
enigmas, Joseph Lambert brings the hard science of chemistry
to bear on the softer sciences of anthropology and archaeology
-- combining disciplines that, at first blush, seem unlikely
partners.
Using cutting-edge scientific methods such
as radiocarbon dating, DNA analysis, and elemental fingerprinting,
acclaimed chemist Joseph Lambert expertly details the rich
insights into ancient life that chemistry alone can provide.
He shows, for example, how investigators today can determine
the diet of prehistoric Europeans, the geographical origin
of the marble in a Greek statute, or the reason why the
Liberty Bell cracked. He uses nuclear magnetic resonance
spectroscopy to reconstruct ancient trade routes, and X-ray
diffraction, among other methods, to compare the color palettes
of the Mesopotamians and Egyptians (the latter were apparently
much more flamboyant). He explains how chemical analysis
of DNA can be used to sort out human lineages and migratory
patterns -- demographic trends that affected, in turn, everything
from language development to the spread of disease.
Chemistry takes center stage in this fascinating
book, proving that it is not just an analyst of culture,
but one of its primary creators. Lambert offers us
a unique glimpse into a form of technical progress hitherto
unappreciated: the ever-increasing ingenuity of the human
race, as seen through the prism of its evolving chemical
sophistication. We discover how primitive chemistry was
initially used by ancient people as a tool to improve their
daily lives, a feat that was achieved by reworking molecules
of clay into pottery and minerals into metal alloys, and
by turning grains into beer and pitch into sealants. By
documenting the way ancient people manipulated their environment
chemically. Joseph Lambert further refines the distinguishing
feature of our species: Early humans were more than tool-makers.
They were molecular transformers.
This exquisitely illustrated and remarkably
accessible book opens a window into the hidden mysteries
of antiquity, and will delight any reader intrigued by the
interplay of science, history, and archaeology.
Joseph B. Lambert is Clare Hamilton Hall
Professor of Chemistry at Northwestern University. He is
a pioneer in organosilicon chemistry and the applications
of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to organic chemistry,
and has won many national awards, including the James Flack
Norris Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Teaching
of Chemistry. He was published over 300 articles and many
leading textbooks in the field of chemistry.
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