X Marks the Spot

Ancient shipwrecks in crystal seas, mythical princesses preserved in ice and astonishing lost rituals - this is the story of archaeology as you've never seen it before . . .

'If you love Indiana Jones, this is the real thing' - DAN SNOW

Professor Michael Scott uncovers the true stories behind history's most monumental discoveries, unearthing traps, curses and buried treasure along the way. Full of extraordinary characters - from glory hunters to forgotten heroes - X Marks the Spot explores our love affair with the past.

We uncover why different periods and places have caught our attention and imaginations at different times. We meet the characters, some celebrated and some forgotten, who found world-famous discoveries like the Rosetta Stone, the Terracotta Warriors and Machu Picchu. We investigate ancient human footprints, stunning shipwrecks, mythical princesses and surprising rituals as keyholes to the wonders of past civilisations. And we unravel how archaeological finds have often become emblems of modern fascinations and dilemmas.

Crossing millions of years, trekking from the jungles of South America to the frozen highlands of Central Asia, X Marks the Spot reveals how much the discovery of our past is intertwined with the concerns of our present and why X never, ever marks the spot.

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Praise for X Marks the Spot:

'An essential read for anyone with even a fleeting interest in exploring the past . . . I couldn't put it down' - JANINA RAMIREZ

'Alive with the spirit of adventure' - SIR RANULPH FIENNES

'Pick up Michael Scott's fabulous, learned, smart and never-dusty new book immediately. It's wonderful' - NATALIE HAYNES

'This is a thrilling investigation of humankind's obsession with the physical remains of its past' - SUZANNAH LIPSCOMB

'Vivid, pacy and full of fascinating detail, X Marks the Spot is a riveting adventure through time' - ALICE LOXTON