Curiosity about family name leads to prehistoric discovery, inspiration for novel

ugust 30, 2012 / TAICHUNG, Taiwan/ David Uerkvitz uses the inspiration gained from researching his ancestors to create a fictional account of what life may have been like 5,200 years ago. After growing curious about the origins of his unusual last name through DNA testing, Uerkvitz was led to a burial mound in Central Asia that contained the remains of his ancestors. Following this unique moment in his life, he wrote “Adin: A Novel of Prehistory” (ISBN 1467979619) to encourage readers to discover their family history.

In “Adin,” Uerkvitz tells the history of a tribe called the Kurgans in the remote areas of Central Asia, who are trapped between the Bronze Age and the Stone Age. As they maneuver their way through life, they end up contributing to civilization in ways they don’t even realize, like being the first people to tame and ride horses. He explains the adventures of the primitive people who went against societal norms to create a new way of living for themselves while still maintaining their belief system.

The author’s story of “Adin” shows how the problems of living so many years ago aren’t essentially different from what people go through today. Uerkvitz creates the fictional story of the young man as he deals with the death of his beloved grandfather, the birth of his son, setbacks, triumphs, conflicts that occur between friends and enemies, and how it all contributes to his identity.

“This novel concerns an unknown tribe that foraged the Central Asian Steppe,” Uerkvitz says. “They are called Kurgans after the burial mounds that dot Central Asia. Their language has influenced all the languages of Europe. The importance of this tribe in the evolution of civilization is just beginning to be realized.”

“Adin: A Novel of Prehistory” is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.

About the Author: David Uerkvitz has a doctorate in music from the University of Oklahoma. He has given piano performances around the world, including the Carnegie in New York. Uerkvitz has taught in universities in America and Costa Rica but now teaches in Taiwan after receiving a Fulbright lectureship award. A published author, Uerkvitz has written books and articles in English and Spanish about piano playing and also wrote another fiction novel, “The Liquid Spirit.”