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The Lost Tomb: And Other Real-Life Stories of Bones, Burials, and Murder

Douglas Preston

3.79(4055 readers)
Douglas Preston, the #1 bestselling author of The Lost City of the Monkey God, presents the jaw-dropping discovery of a vast Egyptian tomb containing dozens of sealed burial chambers, as well as recounting tales of pirate treasure, mysterious deaths, archaeological mysteries, and more… 

What’s it like to be the first to enter an Egyptian burial chamber that’s been sealed for thousands of years? Where might a blocked doorway or newly excavated corridor lead? And what might this stupendous tomb reveal about the most powerful pharaoh in Egyptian history? 

From the jungles of Honduras to macabre archaeological sites in the American Southwest, Douglas Preston's journalistic explorations have taken him across the globe. He broke the story of an extraordinary mass grave of animals killed by the asteroid impact that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, he explored what lay hidden in the booby-trapped Money Pit on Oak Island, and he roamed the haunted hills of Italy in search of the Monster of Florence. When he hasn't been co-authoring bestselling thrillers featuring FBI Agent Pendergast, Preston has been writing about some of the world’s strangest and most dramatic mysteries.

The Lost Tomb brings together an astonishing and compelling collection of true stories about buried treasure, enigmatic murders, lost tombs, bizarre crimes, and other fascinating tales of the past and present.

Publisher

Grand Central Publishing

Publication Date

12/5/2023

ISBN

9781538741245

Pages

297

Categories

History

About the Author

Portrait of author Douglas Preston
Douglas Preston
Douglas Preston was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1956, and grew up in the deadly boring suburb of Wellesley. Following a distinguished career at a private nursery school--he was almost immediately expelled--he attended public schools and the Cambridge School of Weston. Notable events in his early life included the loss of a fingertip at the age of three to a bicycle; the loss of his two front teeth to his brother Richard's fist; and various broken bones, also incurred in dust-ups with Richard. (Richard went on to write The Hot Zone and The Cobra Event, which tells you all you need to know about what it was like to grow up with him as a brother.)

As they grew up, Doug, Richard, and their little brother David roamed the quiet suburbs of Wellesley, terrorizing the natives with home-made rockets and incendiary devices mail-ordered from the backs of comic books or concocted from chemistry sets. With a friend they once attempted to fly a rocket into Wellesley Square; the rocket malfunctioned and nearly killed a man mowing his lawn. They were local celebrities, often appearing in the "Police Notes" section of The Wellesley Townsman. It is a miracle they survived childhood intact.

After unaccountably being rejected by Stanford University (a pox on it), Preston attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he studied mathematics, biology, physics, anthropology, chemistry, geology, and astronomy before settling down to English literature. After graduating, Preston began his career at the American Museum of Natural History in New York as an editor, writer, and eventually manager of publications. (Preston also taught writing at Princeton University and was managing editor of Curator.) His eight-year stint at the Museum resulted in the non-fiction book, Dinosaurs in the Attic, edited by a rising young star at St. Martin's Press, a polymath by the name of Lincoln Child. During this period, Preston gave Child a midnight tour of the museum, and in the darkened Hall of Late Dinosaurs, under a looming T. Rex, Child turned to Preston and said: "This would make the perfect setting for a thriller!" That thriller would, of course, be Relic.

In 1986, Douglas Preston piled everything he owned into the back of a Subaru and moved from New York City to Santa Fe to write full time, following the advice of S. J. Perelman that "the dubious privilege of a freelance writer is he's given the freedom to starve anywhere." After the requisite period of penury, Preston achieved a small success with the publication of Cities of Gold, a non-fiction book about Coronado's search for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola. To research the book, Preston and a friend retraced on horseback 1,000 miles of Coronado's route across Arizona and New Mexico, packing their supplies and sleeping under the stars--nearly killing themselves in the process. Since then he has published several more non-fiction books on the history of the American Southwest, Talking to the Ground and The Royal Road, as well as a novel entitled Jennie. In the early 1990s Preston and Child teamed up to write suspense novels; Relic was the first, followed by several others, including Riptide and Thunderhead. Relic was released as a motion picture by Paramount in 1997. Other films are under development at Hollywood studios. Preston and Child live 500 miles apart and write their books together via telephone, fax, and the Internet.

Preston and his brother Richard are currently producing a television miniseries for ABC and Mandalay Entertainment, to be aired in the spring of 2000, if all goes well, which in Hollywood is rarely the case.

Preston continues a magazine writing career by contributing regularly to The New Yorker magazine. He has also written for National Geographic, Natural History, Smithsonisan, Harper's,and Travel & Leisure,among others.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/dougla...

Questions & Answers

Historical evidence plays a crucial role in solving mysteries and uncovering truths about the past. It provides tangible, physical proof that can be analyzed and interpreted to reconstruct events and understand human behavior. In archaeology, artifacts and skeletal remains offer insights into ancient civilizations, their cultures, and lifestyles. In criminal investigations, forensic evidence like DNA, fingerprints, and physical traces can link suspects to crimes and exonerate the innocent. Historical documents, such as letters, diaries, and legal records, offer written accounts of past events, while oral histories preserve cultural traditions and personal narratives. By piecing together this evidence, researchers and investigators can uncover hidden truths, solve mysteries, and gain a deeper understanding of history.

The stories in "The Lost Tomb" reflect the complexity and moral ambiguity of human nature through various lenses. They depict characters with intricate motivations, revealing both their brilliance and fallibility. For instance, the tale of the "Monster of Florence" showcases the dark side of human evil, where the absence of conscience and empathy leads to heinous acts. The Oak Island mystery highlights the lengths people will go to in pursuit of treasure, sometimes at the cost of lives. The genetic analysis of the skeletons at Roopkund Lake raises questions about identity, heritage, and the scientific pursuit of truth, often at the expense of cultural beliefs. The skiier deaths in the Ural Mountains and the Native American remains debate underscore the moral complexities surrounding scientific inquiry and cultural preservation. These narratives collectively illustrate the multifaceted nature of human behavior, often leaving readers to grapple with the moral ambiguities that define us.

The interplay between fiction and non-fiction in storytelling and understanding history is significant for several reasons. Fiction allows for creative exploration of historical events, offering readers a more engaging and relatable experience. It can illuminate complex ideas and emotions, making history more accessible and memorable. Non-fiction, on the other hand, provides the factual basis for these narratives, ensuring accuracy and offering a window into the past. This interplay fosters critical thinking, as readers can compare and contrast the two forms, understanding the potential biases and interpretations inherent in both. It also encourages curiosity and research, as readers seek to verify the historical accuracy of fictional works. Ultimately, the combination of fiction and non-fiction enriches our understanding of history, allowing us to explore both the facts and the human experience behind those facts.

The book's stories challenge traditional views of race, culture, and human origins in several ways:

  1. Race and Genetics: The book highlights the limitations of race as a biological category, showing that genetic differences among human populations are complex and not as clearly defined as previously thought. It also emphasizes the importance of understanding genetic diversity without resorting to simplistic racial classifications.

  2. Cultural Relativism: The book questions the idea of cultural relativism, which often led to the collection of human remains without respecting the beliefs and values of the cultures from which they originated. It argues for a more respectful approach to cultural heritage and the remains of ancient populations.

  3. Human Origins: The stories explore alternative theories about human migration and the peopling of the Americas, challenging the traditional Beringian Walk theory. They suggest that there may have been multiple migration routes and that the concept of "race" may not be applicable to early human populations.

  4. Cannibalism and Violence: The book examines claims of cannibalism and violence in prehistoric societies, such as the Anasazi, and challenges the notion that such behaviors were widespread or indicative of the entire culture. It encourages a more nuanced understanding of human behavior and the complexities of ancient societies.

  5. Genetic Research: The book discusses the ethical implications of genetic research and its potential to uncover uncomfortable truths about human history, including the presence of violence, inequality, and conquest in early human societies.

Studying and interpreting human remains and historical sites involves significant ethical considerations and responsibilities. First, researchers must respect the dignity of the deceased and the cultural beliefs of the communities associated with the remains or sites. This includes obtaining permission from relevant tribes or descendants before conducting research and respecting their wishes regarding the treatment and reburial of remains.

Second, researchers must ensure the accuracy and integrity of their findings, avoiding bias and sensationalism. They should also be transparent about the limitations of their data and interpretations. Collaboration with local communities and cultural experts is crucial for understanding the historical and cultural significance of sites and remains.

Third, researchers have a responsibility to protect the integrity of the sites and remains from looting and destruction. This includes advocating for legal protection and proper conservation practices. Additionally, researchers should be mindful of the potential impact of their work on public perception and avoid perpetuating stereotypes or inaccuracies.

Lastly, researchers must navigate the complex legal landscape surrounding human remains and archaeological sites, including compliance with laws like NAGPRA, which requires the repatriation of certain remains to tribes. Balancing scientific research with the rights and beliefs of communities is a critical ethical consideration in this field.

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