unperturbed adj. not bothered; unagitated; undisturbed
unregulated adj. uncontrolled; not subject to rules or regulations
unsavoury adj. unpleasant; distasteful; disagreeable
unscalable adj. not possible to climb; insurmountable
unscathed adj. unharmed
unswervingly adv. constantly; without deviating
untold adj. incalculably great in quantity or number
uproariously adv. loudly; boisterously
uranium n. a radioactive, metallic element used as a source of nuclear energy
usher v. to show in; to escort
vanishingly remote phrase extremely unlikely
vantage point n. a position giving a favourable view of a scene or situation
vein n. a quality or trend in speech; writing; etc. ‘In a more positive vein’ means ‘on a more positive note’
Velociraptor see Animal Anthology
venture v. to set out on a possibly hazardous undertaking; to set forth with caution or trepidation
vertical adj. perpendicular; upright
vertigo n. dizziness
vet v. Chapter 13: to check up on; to appraise; n. Chapter 22: an animal doctor (an abbreviation for veterinary surgeon)
vibrate v. to shake; to quiver; to oscillate
vice-chancellor n. a senior official in a university
vigorously adv. energetically; robustly
vindicate v. to justify; to prove something to be right or necessary
virtually adv. almost; practically; in effect
virulent adj. extremely infective
vista n. an impressive view
voracious adj. eager to devour
wader n. a long-legged bird that lives in or near water
walking on eggshells metaphor this phrase is used as a metaphor for very careful or cautious behaviour. In the title of Chapter 10 it is used in both its metaphorical and literal senses
wallaby n. an herbivorous marsupial similar to a small kangaroo
wallow v. to roll about or become immersed in mud or water
watercourse n. a route along which water flows
whence adv. (poetic) from; from what place
white lie n. a fib; a minor untruth
whither adv. (poetic) to what place; where
wince v. to move or grimace suddenly because of a pain or injury; to flinch
witness v. to watch; to see; to observe; n. one who has seen an event
wrath n. extreme anger; rage leading to retribution or vengeance
wry adj. twisted; contorted (facial expression) as an indication of quiet amusement
ye pronoun (archaic) form of address to two or more people
yield v. to produce; to reveal; to bring forth
yoke n. a frame for linking draught animals together
yonder adv. (poetic) over there – often far away
Unit conversion table
1 inch = 2.54 centimetres
1 foot = 12 inches = 0.3 metres
1 yard = 3 feet = 0.91 metres
1 mile = 1760 yards = 1.61 kilometres
1 league = 3 miles (archaic)
1 pound = 16 ounces = 0.45 kilograms
1 ton = 2240 pounds = 1016 kilograms
1 centimetre = 0.39 inches
1 metre = 3.28 feet = 1.09 yards
1 kilometre = 0.62 miles
1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds
1 tonne (metric ton) = 1000 kilograms = 2204.6 pounds
About the Author
David Alric has had a highly distinguished career as a medical professor in which his publications, research and teaching established him as an eminent medical writer and an international leader in his field. He was a pioneer in the development of methods of investigation and treatment that are now routinely used in medical practice and he played a major role in the introduction of computer technology into medicine.
David’s writing experience and scientific knowledge have now been brought to bear on writing for a very different readership. In The Valley of the Ancients and his first novel, The Promised One, he combines his storytelling skills – honed by years of reading to his children and grandchildren – with his deep and wide-ranging understanding of natural history, science and general knowledge to create a fascinating mixture of adventure, fantasy and factual knowledge.
Copyright
First published in 2008
by Faber and Faber Ltd
Bloomsbury House
74–77 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DA
This ebook edition first published in 2012
All rights reserved
© David Alric, 2008
Artwork © David Dean 2008
Artwork for chapters 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 18, 20, 21, 24 and epilogue © David Alric 2008
The right of David Alric to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
Disclaimer:With the exception of the historical characters, any resemblance between the people and animals in this book and any real person, living or dead, is entirely accidental
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly
ISBN 978–0–571–29713–9