In Search of Kings and Conquerors : Gertrude Bell and the Archaeology of the Middle East

AlthoughGertrudeBellhas been afavourite subjectfor biographers, theirfocus on hertravels,romancesand politicalrolehas oftenovershadowedthe significanceof hera rchaeological work.L isaC ooper'sl ively, authoritative andv eryw elcome accountreveals Bell as ascholarratherthanadilettante.Asthe author makesvery evident, it wasB ell'si nteresta nd involvementi nt he archaeologyo ft he Middle East that shaped hera pproachn ot merely to theu nderstanding of itsv anished civilizations,b ut also to thep eoples ands ocieties that shee ncountered in her travels. This work situates Bell within an etwork of pioneering individualst hat were transforminga rchaeology into as erious,s cholarly discipline butt hisi sf ar from adry,academicsurveyofarchaeologicalactivity. Rather it brings us closer to understandingG ertrudeB ell'sa ppreciationo fI raq'sp ast, av isiont hatw ould inform herlater activities in shapingthe region's future.' Paul Collins, Jaleh Hearn Curator for Ancient Near East, Ashmolean Museum "At the height of her career, Bell journeyed into the heart of the Middle East retracing the steps of the ancient rulers who left tangible markers of their presence in the form of castles, palaces, mosques, tombs and temples. Among the many sites she visited were Ephesus, Binbirkilise and Carchemish in modern-day Turkey as well as Ukhaidir, Babylon and Najaf within the borders of modern Iraq. Lisa Cooper here explores Bell's achievements, emphasizing the tenacious, inquisitive side of her extraordinary personality, the breadth of her knowledge and her overall contribution to the archaeology of the Middle East. Featuring many of Bell's own photographs, this is a unique portrait of a remarkable life."--Bloomsbury Publishing Cover 1 Author bio 2 Endorsement 3 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Preface and Acknowledgements 20 Introduction 24 1. Early Life and First Steps in Archaeology 32 2. Euphrates Journey 49 3. Ukhaidir – Desert Splendour 99 4. Encounters in the Heart of Mesopotamia 140 5. Further Travels and Archaeological Research, 1910 – 14 192 6. Mesopotamia and Iraq – Past and Present Entwined 241 Notes 264 Bibliography 315 Index 330 Back cover 338 Untitled 1