The Lost Tomb

Being an amateur Egyptologist I bought this book thinking it would be a nice read and good reference book. What I found was a well written, exciting and factual account of Mr. Week's project on KV5. This is by far one of the best written, could not put it down books I've read. Well organized with enough background, and flows smooth like the Nile itself. At times I almost felt like I was there and could see the decaying walls and the feeling of being choked from the dust. After reading the book I also bought the Atlas of the Valley of the Kings (The Theban mapping project). Which gives incredible details of not only KV5 but the rest of the Valley of the Kings as well. Atlas of the Valley of the Kings (The Theban mapping project)

This is an fascinating account of the discovery, or, to be precise, re-discovery, of the sprawling KV5 tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Dr. Kent Weeks, who heads the excavation project, provides us with a lucid narrative of the events in which the inquisitive mind and perseverence of archeologists and others who're involved in the venture finally led to the unveiling of one of the most amazing tombs in dynastic Egypt. The author has adopted a matter of fact approach and thankfully does not sensationalise matters or make wild predictions that are unsupported by facts. Nevertheless, the story is embellished by rich details, a sense of humour and some human touches, making it an enjoyable read from beginning to end. Furthermore, the reader can also know something about the not-too-glamorous side of archeology (which often involves tedious work in highly uncomfortable and even claustrophobic environment) and this, by itself, can be quite eye-opening to the uninitiated. On the other hand, the sense of awe and amazement on the part of those who first entered the "lost tomb", as well as the sense of disappointment at some other stages in the excavation, is palpable. With its friendly writing style and interesting subject matter, I believe that this book would not only appeal to those who're already steeped in Egyptology or archeology in general, it should also be easily appreciated by the general reader.

Ignore the nit-picking criticisms of some of the other attached reviews by would-be egyptologists; Weeks' discovery and subsequent investigation of a significant unexplored section of a tomb dismissed by the "professional" community has provoked much jealous, petty sniping. The facts are that his credentials are well established, as any read of the book will show, and his team's persistence uncovered what may yet turn out to be one of the most extensive sites in the Valley. Furthermore, he deserves additional praise for potentially saving an incredible location that was actively endangered by encroaching twentieth century activity, as anyone who actually has the interests of the science at heart would attest. If you are at all interested in the subject, his account is engaging and readable; the excitement of the discovery is well captured and conveyed to the reader. Furthermore, his commentary on the people and culture of modern Egypt is well worth reading, illustrating how politics and archaeology are unfortunately sometimes inseparable and how a true professional in the field must understand both to be effective. Do not let wanna-be armchair quarterbacks dissuade you from enjoying this book; I for one look forward to additional documentation of the other areas of the complex, as they are opened, and trust that Weeks will be working and contributing to the field for years to come.

Kent Weeks shares his love for ancient Egypt. He gives great background info that makes the history of KV5 and Ramesses II come to life. I can hardly wait to read his next book and find out what else they find in KV5.

Written by Dr. Kent R. Weeks, one of the most important Egyptologists of our time, The Lost Tomb is an interesting, informative, and often quite humourous book. Weeks' story of the excavation of KV5 is a story rivaling Howard Carter's discovery of the Tomb of Tutankamun. Dr. Weeks' book goes into great detail, a must for any egyptological volume, but it never gets boring. If you have even a remote intrest in Ancient Egypt or you are an Egyptologist your self, you will not be able to put this book down.