From Black Land to Fifth Sun

A renowned archaeologist uncovers the “archaeology of the mind” and how it takes us further into the past than mere artifacts. 

“This is Fagan at his best.”—Nature

From the Nile’s black land to the Aztec’s world of the Fifth Sun, from the shrines at Phylakopi to the Maya ceremonial center of Xunantunich, sophisticated scientific techniques have given us insight into the intangible: our ancestors’ relationship with the cosmos, their notion of cyclical time, their dependence on—and worship of—the earth, indeed their very world view. Brian Fagan draws upon a wealth of scientific disciplines to explore this new “archaeology of the mind.” 

From Black Land to Fifth Sun is an engrossing look at the archaeological discoveries that have transformed our understanding of the inner lives of ancient people everywhere.

• “The stories are fresh, the insights dramatic, and Fagan tells the unfolding drama with verve…This is Fagan at his best.”
  Nature
• “A personal, passionate account of fascinating problems…Nobody does this kind of book better than Fagan, who is a master of the fluent, readable, and informative account of archaeological investigation.”
  New Scientist
• “Fagan’s pilgrimage…takes us on an often gripping first-person tour of the world’s past, and his excitement in surveying these areas for himself is almost palpable. But the real focus here is on the science… and its invaluable contribution to painstaking reconstructions of the time frames and available materials of various eras.”
  Publishers Weekly
• “Fagan’s synthesis takes the reader on an enlightening journey…educating us about methods, theories, and inferences…Fagan blends science and archaeology to add a new dimension to our understanding of sacred places.”
  Science Books and Films