- Cullman, Alabama


November 27, 2012

For archaeologist Jordan Jacobs, a groundbreaking first book


When Jordan Jacobs was 5 years old, he went to the school librarian to ask for a book about mummies.

"You want a book about your mommy; what a sweet boy you are," she told him.

"No, I want a book about MUMMIES . . . you know, ancient Egypt," the frustrated boy explained.

Jacobs has been interested in mummies and books ever since. He grew up to be an archaeologist, digging up ancient tools and bones all over the world, and has just written his first book, "Samantha Sutton and the Labyrinth of Lies."

Jacobs, whose book chronicles the adventures of a girl who wants to be an archaeologist and her brilliant uncle, recently took some time away from studying really old stuff and writing brand new books to talk to KidsPost.

Q: When did you do your first archaeological dig?

A: "I went on my first excavation when I was 12. A lot of what archaeologists do is to make sure that things are studied before they are destroyed by construction. What we were finding was . . . tiny little flecks of stone [from] stone tools. We weren't finding the tools themselves but just the little extra bits. By the end of the day, I had a real appreciation for what archaeology really is. It's not always like Indiana Jones, but it's still an interesting puzzle. It's fun to be out there in the dirt and digging holes and being outside all day."

Q: So where are some of the most amazing places you've been to?

A: "I've been to 40-something countries. . . . If everyone was able to travel, the world would be a much better place because . . . travel really makes you see how similar people are wherever you go."

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