Whether it’s the mighty pyramids of Egypt, the majestic temples of Mexico, or the magnificent Colosseum of Rome, we have an idea of what the past looked like. But how can we understand the past with our other senses? From the tang of Roman fish sauce and the springy crust of Egyptian sourdough to the boom of medieval cannons and the clash of Viking swords, history often neglects the tastes, textures, sounds, and smells that were an intimate part of our ancestors’ lives.
Author Sam Kean draws on his new book Dinner with King Tut to reveal how a new generation of researchers is resurrecting these hidden details and pioneering a new discipline called experimental archaeology. They are investigating ancient bog bodies, carving primitive hunting spears, and plunging into the open sea in boats of their making to experience history as it was lived in all its aspects—and with all the human senses.
Kean’s book Dinner with King Tut: How Rogue Archaeologists Are Recreating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations (Little, Brown) is available for purchase.
Book Sale Information
General Information
