A century of excavation in the land of the Pharaohs

The author traces the development of Egyptian archaeology over more than a century, describing early expeditions and the work of leading excavators and scholars, including shifts toward systematic field methods. Separate chapters survey investigations of pyramids, temples, royal tombs and the discovery associated with Tutankhamen, and present material on daily life, arts, and crafts revealed by artifacts. The narrative emphasizes archaeological techniques, key monuments and notable finds, and the changing aims of research, while noting that the book does not attempt comprehensive treatment of searches for ancient cities or the specialized field of papyrus-hunting.