Imagine holding a Neanderthal stone tool or a lamp that lit the darkness of ancient Rome. Few people realize that such items can be bought often for less than $300. This only guide of its kind lists an array of inexpensive antiquities that were made in Europe and Western Asia before the fall of Rome or in pre-Columbian America. This Official guide is the key to uncovering affordable ancient treasures. Photos throughout.

From the dazzling temples of the Acropolis to the strange and enigmatic glyphs of the Maya, Ancient Civilizations takes readers on a fascinating journey back in time. This richly illustrated book explores the beliefs, rituals, arts and myths of ancient cultures across the world, beginning with the first civilizations of the Fertile Crescent and progressing to the early Middle Ages. Informative, accessible text and gorgeous, detailed photographs of art work and sacred sites give readers real insight into our ancient ancestors' daily lives. Special emphasis is given to symbols, sacred texts, religious ceremonies, gods and goddesses, visions of the cosmos, and sacred sites. If you've ever felt drawn to the magic, legends, and mysteries of the past, this is the perfect book for both reading pleasure and reference.

The innovation and progress that characterize modernity often eclipse the accomplishments of ages past. However, close examination of ancient civilizations reveals a sophistication in both thought and accomplishment that in some ways surpasses what is observed in the present. This adventurous set details the ancient lifestyles and cultures that have produced concepts and technologies still in use today. Illustrations complement the text and instill excitement for the achievements of these rich and highly developed societies. Features include: Appendices summarize salient details on a range of topics for easy study. Images of the art and artifacts of each civilization bring each culture into splendid focus. Detailed glossaries explain terms and concepts.

This compendium of ancient mysteries and controversial knowledge is “an excellent briefing on the genre and its complexities” (Fortean Times). Where did “modern” civilization begin? What lies beneath the waves? Do myths describe interstellar impact? How’d they lift that stone? Was the Ark of the Covenant a mechanical device? Were there survivors of an Atlantean catastrophe? Who really discovered the “New” World? “Hidden history” continues to fascinate an ever wider audience. In this massive compendium, editor Preston Peet brings together an all-star cast of contributors to question established wisdom about the history of the world and its civilizations. Peet and anthology contributors guide us through exciting archeological adventures and treasure hunts, ancient mysteries, lost or rediscovered technologies, and assorted “Forteana,” using serious scientific studies and reports, scholarly research, and some plain old fringe material, as what is considered “fringe” today is often hard science tomorrow. Contributors include: Graham Hancock (Fingerprints of the Gods and Underworld), David Hatcher Childress (Lost Cities and Civilizations series), Colin Wilson (From Atlantis to the Sphinx), Michael Cremo (Forbidden Archeology), William Corliss (Ancient Infrastructures), Robert Schoch (Voyages of the Pyramid Builders), John Anthony West (Serpent in the Sky), Michael Arbuthnot (Team Atlantis), Erich Von Daniken (Chariots of the Gods), and many more.

After digging underground for a while, archaeologists might discover ancient artifacts from people and civilizations that lived many centuries ago! Artifacts are objects made by humans, and natural objects can be artifacts if humans have changed them. Archaeologists study artifacts to learn about how ancient people lived, and readers now learn about how ancient people lived from studying artifacts that have been unearthed. Exciting photographs and accessible text guide readers to understand the days of the past and how artifacts have served as missing pieces to the puzzle of the ancient worlds.

This book provides a basic description of early civilizations in Mesopotamia, India, China, Mesoamerica, Persia, Greece and Macedonia. The period covered ranges from the beginnings of mankind to the Hellenistic Period.

From the president of the National Jewelry Institute comes the largest collection of the oldest jeweled objects ever assembled. With sparkling photography and history throughout, the book will be supported by a major exhibit of the collection. These gorgeous artifacts—the oldest jeweled armor, weapons, jewelry, household objects, and more, with informative captions and stunning photography on every page—originated in Mesopotamia, Persia, Levant, the Byzantine Empire, and the Islamic world, from 4000 B.C.E. through 700 C.E. Artifacts appearing in the book are being lent to the exhibit by almost every major permanent collection of ancient objects in the world: jeweled treasures from the Louvre, the Berlin Museum, the Islamic collection at the Metropolitan, the Princeton Museum, and the Israeli Museum are shown together for the first time. Also included are interviews with major scholars and curators from around the world, speaking on ancient civilizations and the remaining artifacts that reveal their truly stunning cultures.