Bodies From the Past; The Search for Dinosaurs

The Ice Man, Egyptian mummies and the Bog-bodies of Northern Europe are just some of the examples used by Robin Place to explain how archaeologists can find out so much more about what ancient peoples ate, wore and how they died, by studying actual bodies rather than skeletons.

Moreover, they are continually making new discoveries, sometimes as the result of recent finds and sometimes by using modern technology - the CT scanner, for example, enables them to look inside mummies without unwrapping the bandages. Often fresh evidence, from whatever source, obliges them to revise their previous calculations.

Dougal Dixon reiterates this point in his book. Dinosaur remains began to be uncovered in large numbers in the second half of the last century (and his account of the exploits of some of the early dinosaur 'hunters' is almost as exciting as the discoveries themselves) but fresh finds are still being made. As a result many new and exciting theories are being put forward and we still only know of about a fifth of all the species that existed.

In both these clearly written and presented titles, knowledgeable and enthusiastic authors succeed in making the past come alive for young readers.