SECRETS OF THE DEAD

A forensic and archaeological introduction to some amazing remains, published in collaboration with the British Museum.

Throughout history and around the world, human remains attest to ancient (and not-so-distant) cultures and communities. Skulls and bones are everywhere, but well-preserved bodies, such as Ötzi the Iceman, are especially rich in information. Ralphs offers in-depth looks at mummification and discusses beliefs in gods and the afterlife; he takes readers to elaborate tombs, like the Great Pyramid, as well as bogs, catacombs, and underground chambers. The author sensitively handles difficult topics such as child sacrifice. He covers well-known cultural sites such as ancient Egypt and Pompei, as well as potentially unfamiliar and eye-opening ones. Readers will meet the oldest mummifiers, the Chinchorro, who lived on the west coast of South America and took an egalitarian approach, preserving everyone who died, regardless of age or status. Ralphs also spotlights the salt mines of Iran, the Taklamakan Desert in China, the Siberian steppe, and the Arctic. The writing is clear and engaging, and the many unknowns remain tantalizing mysteries. Wright’s precise and colorful gouache, acrylic, and ink illustrations bring the cultural settings, preserved remains, and compelling (and impressive) artifacts, including tools, food, clothes, weapons, and crafts, to vivid life.

A somewhat grisly but fascinating look at what preserved bodies can reveal of their lives and cultural origins.