Ruin & Myth
The wonder of lost cities, with the myths labelled.
Lost Civilisations Field Guide covers 30 lost cities and civilisations: what was found, what is known, what is still argued about, and which parts are myth.
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Documentaries about lost cities are wonderful to watch, and it is often hard to tell where the evidence ends and the story begins. Excavation results, ancient legends and modern theories tend to be told in the same voice.
This guide keeps them apart. Every place has a box that sorts "what the evidence says" from "what the legend says", and every fact points to a published source you can check.
What's inside
- 30 places, from Göbekli Tepe and Çatalhöyük to Angkor, Great Zimbabwe and Machu Picchu, plus Atlantis as the one "myth entry", treated as what it is: a story told by Plato.
- For each place: where it is, its dates, how to say its name, a short summary, a location map, the evidence-and-legend box, a visiting note, books to read next, and lined space for your own field notes.
- A world map and a Mediterranean and Near East map with all 30 places numbered.
- Endnotes: the published sources behind every fact (UNESCO World Heritage records, excavation reports, scholarly books and journal articles).
- 72 pages (US Letter) / 71 pages (A4), printer-friendly light pages.
The 30 places: Göbekli Tepe, Jericho, Çatalhöyük, Caral, Ur, Mohenjo-daro, Knossos, Akrotiri, Atlantis (myth), Helike, Hattusa, Mycenae, Troy, Amarna, Nineveh, Babylon, Persepolis, Carthage, Meroë, Pompeii, Teotihuacan, Aksum, Tikal, Palenque, Chaco Canyon, Angkor, Cahokia, Nan Madol, Great Zimbabwe, Machu Picchu.
Who it's for
- People who love documentaries about ancient places and want something to keep beside them.
- Readers who want the wonder without being misled: what we actually know, and what is a story.
- Travellers planning a visit to a famous site, as a first orientation.
Who it's not for
- Anyone looking for proof of ancient aliens or a lost super-civilisation. This guide follows the evidence.
- Specialists: it is an introduction, not a scholarly reference.
FAQ
Where do the facts come from?
From published sources: UNESCO World Heritage records, excavation reports and books and articles by archaeologists and historians. Each fact is tied to a numbered source in the endnotes.
Are the visiting notes up to date?
They were written in October 2026 as general orientation. Opening times, tickets and safety change, so always check the site's official information and your government's travel advice before you go.
How do I get it?
Straight after payment, your download links appear on screen and arrive by email. The links work for 72 hours, and your order page gives you fresh links any time.
What format is it?
A PDF in two sizes, US Letter (72 pages) and A4 (71 pages); you get both. Read it on screen or print it at home. It is not a printed book.
Was AI used?
Yes. Written with AI assistance and edited by Lamp & Leaf Press. Every fact is tied to a published source you can check. The guide contains no AI-generated images: the cover is a public-domain painting by Thomas Cole (1836), and the maps were drawn for the guide from public-domain Natural Earth data.
Can I get a refund?
Because this is an instant download, there are no refunds once your download starts. If a file doesn't arrive or doesn't work, email us and we'll fix it, or refund you if we can't. This doesn't affect your legal rights.
Your right of withdrawal (EU digital content)
This is digital content delivered immediately. Before you pay, you agree that delivery starts straight away and confirm that you therefore lose your statutory 14-day right of withdrawal once the download begins.
Ruin & Myth is a Lamp & Leaf Press brand. Lost cities. Old myths. What the evidence says.