Andrew Lawler covers history, archaeology, and cultural heritage in the Middle East and Central Asia for a host of publications. He is a contributing writer for Science, a contributing editor for Archaeology, and has written often for Smithsonian Magazine and National Geographic. His byline has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, Scientific American, and many other newspapers and magazines. Author of four books, including the prize-winning Under Jerusalem, he has won numerous writing awards and fellowships. For more, see www.andrewlawler.com.

Photo credit: Scott Smith