Archaeological finds tell us a lot about the past, but the stories behind archaeological exploration and discovery – what we look for when, what we end up finding, and what we then do with it – tell us almost as much about ourselves today. Through eight sensational stories of discovery, Professor Michael Scott traces the evolution of modern archaeology from colonial expeditions to today’s cutting-edge digs. Introducing the people who found world-famous discoveries like the Rosetta Stone, the Terracotta Warriors and Machu Picchu, and unravelling how archaeological finds have often become emblems of modern fascinations and dilemmas, Scott tells us why X never, ever marks the spot.