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The last few decades have witnessed a revolution
in archaeological techniques. Many archaeologists are now
casting aside their brushes and blades in favor of more
sophisticated, more revealing, more reliable procedures.
And classical historians, who increasingly refer to the
data obtained through these procedures, are beginning to
see the ancient world in a whole new light.
In The Visible Past, distinguished
historian Michael Grant, whose clear, intelligent writing
has filled many volumes on classical civilization, shows
us how archaeology has transformed and enlarged our knowledge
of the ancient Greeks and Romans. He describes and assesses
the great contribution made by underwater exploration of
sites and shipwrecks, such as the vessel, discovered in
1961 near the island of Igilium (Giglio), whose shabby hull
yielded important information about early Greek commerce.
In a later section, Grant takes us to the Ionian seashore
and recalls the extensive search there for the city of Sybaris.
Using a magnetometer, scientists and researchers were able
to measure the earth's magnetic field to precisely locate
that settlement beneath several layers of silt deposits.
As Grant continues his examination of over
fifty case studies, we learn how Italian engineer Carlo
M. Lerici used electrical resistance data gathered by a
potentiometer to probe the tombs of southwest Etruria (now
the region of Lazio); how the study of bones, plant remains
and coprolites has informed us about what people ate during
the Middle Empire; how "tree-dating" has brought
a new dimension to the study of ancient wood structures,
such as Augustus's bridge between the Gallic interior and
the Rhineland; and, finally, how air photography, enhanced
by the infra-red technique and aided by many electrical,
magnetic and sonic instruments, has afforded archaeologists
the opportunity to learn more about many industrial sites.
Enlightening and engaging, The Visible
Past combines rich, scholarly detail with a compelling
text. Michael Grant masterfully demonstrates the vital role
played by archaeology, our visible, physical link to the
past, in understanding classical history and civilization.
Michael Grant is formerly a Fellow of
Trinity College, Cambridge; Professor of Humanity at Edinburgh
University; and President and Vice-Chancellor of the University
of Khartoum. His many other books on the ancient world include
The Classical Greeks, From Alexander to Cleopatra,
and The History of Rome. He lives in Italy.
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