Dragon Sea: A True Tale of Treasure, Archeology, and Greed off the Coast of Vietnam

Science News,  Feb 17, 2007  

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DRAGON SEA: A True Tale of Treasure, Archeology, and Greed off the Coast of Vietnam

FRANK POPE

Underwater archaeology, invented in the 1950s, offers a unique mix of history, adventure, and danger to its practitioners. Pope recounts the story of Mensun Bound, an Oxford archaeologist devoted to uncovering lost undersea worlds. When approached to aid in the commercial exploration and recovery of an ancient wreck near Hoi An, Vietnam, Bound jumped at the opportunity to preserve valuable archaeological evidence that might otherwise be ruined. Hired as an archaeological consultant, Pope watched Bound work and the project unfold. In this detailed account, Pope tells how a crew of 160 people toiled to excavate the wreck site and preserve the exquisite blue-and-white ceramics that typified the Vietnamese Golden Age. The story also reveals a darker side of human nature that emerged as the venture concluded. Harcourt, 2007, 341 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $25.00.

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