Peter Lourie

REVIEWS

Library Media Connection - April/May 2007

Gr. K-5. 6-8. In this fascinating book, the author takes us to modern-day Mexico City where archeologist Leonardo Lopez Lujan is conducting new excavations at the Aztec Great Temple, and to the ancient Pyramid of the Moon in the City of Gods in Teotihuacn. This well-researched book examines the ancient Aztec civilization from an archeological perspective. An introduction to this complex society is combined with an overview of the process of discovering and preserving the artifacts of ancient civilizations. Each of the nine chapters begins with a verse of Aztec poetry, presenting yet another facet of the Aztec civilization, and is beautifully illustrated with color and b&w photographs, drawings, and maps. This well-written and visually interesting book would be a welcome addition to the elementary or middle school library as supplementary material to titles focused primarily on the history of the Aztec civilization. It will appeal not only to students researching the ancient Aztec civilization, but also to those with a keen interest in archeology.

Bibliography. Glossary. Web sites. Index. Recommended.

School Library Journal - October, 2006

G 3-6–This attractive book takes an objective look at the Aztecs from the perspective of archaeological digs at the Great Temple in modern-day Mexico City and at the Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan. Nine highly pictorial chapters cover Aztec and Toltec history and the excavations that expand understanding of these civilizations. Lourie also outlines the process of archaeology and the methods used to uncover and preserve artifacts. A photo of a statue of the God of Death, buried in concrete, does much to illustrate the care taken to free such works of art from the medium in which they are imprisoned. The writing style is clear, informative, and interesting. The text features numerous observations made by archaeologist Leonardo López Luján, which are illuminating, especially concerning the blood sacrifice aspect of Aztec religion–exaggerated, he feels, by the Spaniards to justify their conquest. Verses of Aztec poetry begin each chapter, presenting a more rounded look at a complex and sophisticated society. This sound volume can be used with more conventional titles, such as Elaine Landau's Exploring the World of the Aztecs with Elaine Landau (Enslow, 2005), and is especially good for viewing a culture as it is re-created through excavation.

****

Kirkus Reviews - October 1, 2006

The latest stop in his photographic tour of ancient American civilizations brings Lourie to excavations beneath the streets of both Mexico City and the pre-Aztec ruins of Teotihuacan. Prefacing each short chapter with a passage of usually rather valedictory Aztec poetry, he offers brief visitor's impressions while following archeologists into digs at the Great Temple and later, the Pyramid of the Moon. He fills in historical background with notes on Aztec society (not quite as blood-soaked, he suggests, as often portrayed) and an account of Cortes's catastrophic arrival. A generous array of big color photos range from pictures of modern cityscapes to huge preserved ancient structures, from vivid manuscript illustrations and stone carvings to engaging scenes of scientists engrossed in their careful work. Writing with contagious enthusiasm, the author will kindle in readers the same wonder he feels at the way clues to our shared past are being found in these places nearly every day. (bibliography) (Nonfiction. 10-12)

****

Booklist - October 15, 2006

Lourie, who has written many books about his travels through the world's
waterways and along historic trails, here travels to Mexico to look at the
lost civilization of the Aztec. The book is really the story of Lourie as he joins archaeologist Leonardo López Luján who is conducting excavations at the Great Temple, which is now covered by the streets of downtown Mexico and at the older Temple of the Moon a few miles north of the city. The book's strongest suit are its unique photographs, brightly reproduced on crisp white pages: lots of pictures of archaeologists at work, interesting finds, all bolstered by historical engravings. There are some interesting new bits here. For instance, Lujan insists that human sacrifice was not nearly so common as history made it out to be.

****

In September 2002, I traveled to Mexico to the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan and into the Pyramid of the Moon to witness the first excavation ever done at the top of that great temple. The Mexican archaeologist Leonardo López Luján

took me to visit the Japanese archaeologist Saburo Sugiyama, the leader of the excavation.

Teotihuacan was a great city a thousand years before the Aztecs built their city of Tenochtitlan, now Mexico City. The Aztecs revered the ancient culture and modeled their own city and much of their culture on the former empire.

Saburo Sugiyama's Teotihuacan website: Teotihuacan: The City of Gods

In 2004, I returned to Mexico to the Great Temple in Mexico City where Leonardo Luján began new excavations. More about the Great Temple: Museo del Templo Mayor.

Spanish version of Museo del Templo Mayor site

How the cactus stone was unearthed

The story of the 'Porrúa Bookshop Stone' is a classic and exemplary case of how meticulous research, thousands of miles from 'home', led a leading archaeologist to make an exciting discovery.

Leonardo is seen here working in the new excavation at the Great Temple.