Other Ancient Civilisations

Raven Todd Da Silva is an award-winning scholar, archaeologist and art conservator who is passionate about all things ancient. Since 2016, she has built an online platform dedicated to making learning about the past accessible, fun and “sexy” for everyone called Dig it With Raven. She strongly believes that learning about the past should be accessible to all and that the education of this subject has been gate-kept by old men in stuffy libraries for years. Raven has worked on archaeological projects in Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Oman, and Turkey, and specialises in the Neolithic archaeology of Southwest Asia. She has also been featured as an expert presenter on multiple podcasts, and videos. Raven holds a HBA from the University of Toronto in Classical and Near and Middle Eastern Civilisations, an MSc from the University of Amsterdam in the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, and an MA from University College London in the Archaeology and Heritage of Egypt and the Middle East.

“Raven Todd DaSilva’s debut book takes readers on a captivating journey through time, shedding light on the lesser-known ancient civilisations and archaeological cultures often overlooked in popular media. With a masterful blend of storytelling and well-researched facts, Da Silva brings archaeology to life, making it accessible and engaging for a wider audience. Her comprehensive analysis is an invaluable resource for historians, archaeologists, and anyone intrigued by the ancient world. Her fresh perspective offers a thought-provoking and enlightening guide to the diversity and complexity of ancient civilisations, extending far beyond the traditional narratives.”—Natasha Billson, award-winning archaeologist and a lead broadcaster on The Great British Dig“If Indiana Jones wrote a guidebook, it might mirror what Raven Todd DaSilva has penned. The Other Ancient Civilisations gives life to the shadows of heroes and everyday people travellers walk in the footsteps of today. The hits are all here, but so too are the obscure deep tracks. We see the likely son of a gardener planting the seeds of literature in Mesopotamia, the jungle shaman carefully hovering over the bones of the dead in the Amazon, and the first rumbles of the Minotaur in the Mediterranean. We ride on outriggers across Oceana and delve into an ancient super city on the banks of the Mississippi River. Hooked by these captivating tales, we are lead into the backstories of people and places that shaped the world as we know it today—and bring a new depth to modern life that ushers the curious traveller onwards across the globe.”—Joe Sills, Forbes“Todd DaSilva had me at the contents list…what a great concept. An expansive book and well worth a read.”—Ella Al-Shamahi, palaeoanthropologist and TV presenter“Totally brings obscure and unsung histories to life, you'll love it!”—Stefan Milosavljevich, author of Tales of Ancient Worlds“In this well-written and engaging volume, Raven Todd DaSilva presents a readable and interesting series of short takes on the archaeology of a wide variety of ancient and more recent societies, with stops as far afield as Japan, India, Crete, and the Americas. Even knowledgeable readers will find a smorgasbord of information within the discussions. Recommended for all ages, especially for those wishing to look beyond the usual tales of ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt.”—Eric H. Cline, author of 1177 BC“The Akkadians, Jomon, Lapita, Marajoara, and the Mississippians: Raven Todd DaSilva takes us on a succinct journey through some of the world’s less well-known complex societies. This is a treasury of ancient cultures; read about them in any order you like, a refreshing change. Each chapter briefly introduces a society, while a lengthy bibliography invites you to delve deeper into their intricacies. This is an excellent, thoroughly researched, and admirably illustrated introduction to the lesser-known highlights of our past that is ideal for beginners.”—Brian Fagan, distinguished emeritus professor of anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of People of the Earth“This book is a brilliant introduction to the large number of ancient civilisations around the world who too often don’t get the spotlight, and yet whose history, culture, traditions, beliefs, and achievements deserve to be known and understood. DaSilva gives us a fantastic insight into the rich tapestry of human cultures across time and space and the sheer splendid diversity of human nature. I bet you to read this book and not be surprised by what you find!”—Professor Michael Scott, author, academic, and broadcaster, The University of Warwick, UK“Despite already having a good grounding in ancient history, this book was full of new things for me. Meticulously researched and engagingly written. I could not put this book down! Highly recommended for any history buff.”—Kathleen Dawson, The Bookworm of Edwards“If Indiana Jones wrote a guidebook, it might mirror what Raven Todd DaSilva has penned. The Other Ancient Civilisations gives life to the shadows of heroes and everyday people that travelers walk in the footsteps of today.”—Forbes Magazine