The vegetation in Wadi El Gemal National Park in Egypt’s Eastern Desert is more diverse than might first be expected, but even more surprising is the relationship that the desert dwellers continue to have with the plant life in their habitat, despite the increasing modernization of their world. As a ranger in the park, Tamer Mahmoud quickly realized the importance of surveying, identifying, and documenting the indigenous plants, and recording the information he compiled from interviews with the local community about how they use the plants for food, healing, animal fodder, and fuel. The result is this detailed and colorful guide, which includes photographs of each plant, the scientific name and local name in Arabic and English, and information on location, distribution, uses, and ecology. A glossary, bibliography, visitors’ information section and distribution maps make this a comprehensive reference work that will interest visitors, scientists, anyone interested in the flora of arid areas, and even anthropologists.

In ancient times, Egypt’s influence extended over Nubia, a vast geographical area that starts south of Aswan and ends at the confluence of the White Nile and the Blue Nile. Because of its strategic importance, the area of Nubia around Lake Nasser and Aswan is full of archaeological treasures and impressive monuments. This fully illustrated book gives a concise history of the exploration of Nubia and the sites and temples of Lower Nubia, as well as explaining in depth the archaeological rescue mission that captured the world’s imagination in the 1960s: the salvage of Abu Simbel and the Nubian temples. Detailed descriptions, plans, maps, and photographs are given of all the sites involved, including the temples that were dismantled and rebuilt in new locations above the rising waters, as well as those that were donated in thanks to nations assisting in the rescue. The most up-to-date scientific research, color photographs, and maps allow the reader to make a virtual visit to the archaeological sites and absorb the history of Nubia in all its complexity.