Archaeologists of the Past
The history of archaeology is filled with scholars who contributed great or little advances in the science. Here are links to biographies of the archaeologists of the past.
Book Review: Dead Men Do Tell Tales
While Byron Khun de Prorok's 1933 memoir of Ethiopia called "Dead Men Do Tell Tales" is not for the squeamish--nor is it politically correct in either archaeological or ethical senses of the word--it is a trip back into the mind of a professional archaeologist of the early twentieth century.
While Byron Khun de Prorok's 1933 memoir of Ethiopia called "Dead Men Do Tell Tales" is not for the squeamish--nor is it politically correct in either archaeological or ethical senses of the word--it is a trip back into the mind of a professional archaeologist of the early twentieth century.
Adolph Bandelier: The Book
Adolph Bandelier [1840-1914] was one of those archaeologist-adventurers that we all tsk-tsk over, and yet secretly want to be.
Adolph Bandelier [1840-1914] was one of those archaeologist-adventurers that we all tsk-tsk over, and yet secretly want to be.
C. G. Abbot
From the National Academy of Science, a biography of the American Renaissance man, Charles Greeley Abbot.
From the National Academy of Science, a biography of the American Renaissance man, Charles Greeley Abbot.
James Henry Breasted
It's not pretty, but it is thorough; a biography of Breasted from an eclip from Chicago Portraits, Biographies of 250 Famous Chicagoans.
It's not pretty, but it is thorough; a biography of Breasted from an eclip from Chicago Portraits, Biographies of 250 Famous Chicagoans.
The Breasted Expedition
James Henry Breasted spent 1905-1907 in Nubia to record the ancient monuments there; he took over a thousand photographs, now available on line, courtesy of the Oriental Institute.
James Henry Breasted spent 1905-1907 in Nubia to record the ancient monuments there; he took over a thousand photographs, now available on line, courtesy of the Oriental Institute.
Howard Carter: King Tut's Tomb Found!
In November 1922, Howard Carter discovered not just an unknown ancient Egyptian tomb, but one that had lain nearly undisturbed for over 3,000 years. What lay within King Tut's tomb astounded the world; from your About guide to the 20th Century, Jen Rosenberg.
In November 1922, Howard Carter discovered not just an unknown ancient Egyptian tomb, but one that had lain nearly undisturbed for over 3,000 years. What lay within King Tut's tomb astounded the world; from your About guide to the 20th Century, Jen Rosenberg.
Alfonso Caso
Mexican archaeologist, did extensive work at Monte Alban and contributed much to our understanding of the Mixteca culture
Mexican archaeologist, did extensive work at Monte Alban and contributed much to our understanding of the Mixteca culture
Gertrude Caton-Thompson
English archaeologist, most famed for her survey work with E. W. Gardner at the El Fayum area of Egypt, and for her ground-breaking work at the Great Zimbabwe site, where she proved conclusively was of African origin; a brief article on the Distinguished Women site.
English archaeologist, most famed for her survey work with E. W. Gardner at the El Fayum area of Egypt, and for her ground-breaking work at the Great Zimbabwe site, where she proved conclusively was of African origin; a brief article on the Distinguished Women site.
Jean-Francois Champollion
Decipherer of the Rosetta Stone; an article in KMT on the famous French archaeologist and linguist.
Decipherer of the Rosetta Stone; an article in KMT on the famous French archaeologist and linguist.
Bernabe Cobo
Biography of the 17th century Spanish priest, who lived 61 years in Mexico and South America, written by Adolph Bandelier and placed online by the Catholic Encyclopedia.
Biography of the 17th century Spanish priest, who lived 61 years in Mexico and South America, written by Adolph Bandelier and placed online by the Catholic Encyclopedia.
Raymond Dart
A biography of Australian paleontologist Dart from the terrific Talk Origins site.
A biography of Australian paleontologist Dart from the terrific Talk Origins site.
Andrew Ellicott Douglass
American astronomer, who with archaeologist Clark Wissler, invented the dating methodology known as dendrochronology, or tree-ring dating. From the EMuseum at the University of Minnesota-Mankato.
American astronomer, who with archaeologist Clark Wissler, invented the dating methodology known as dendrochronology, or tree-ring dating. From the EMuseum at the University of Minnesota-Mankato.
Arthur Evans
British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans is best known for his excavations at the Minoan site of Knossos. This biography is from the Dilos site, a commercial travel site.
British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans is best known for his excavations at the Minoan site of Knossos. This biography is from the Dilos site, a commercial travel site.
Galileo Galilei
While Galileo was decidedly not an archaeologist, this NOVA website argues that he was the "father of modern science," and was able to successfully walk the line between religion and science.
While Galileo was decidedly not an archaeologist, this NOVA website argues that he was the "father of modern science," and was able to successfully walk the line between religion and science.
Dorothy Garrod
British archaeologist, first woman ever elected to full professorship at Cambridge; biographical sketch by Pamela Jane Smith.
British archaeologist, first woman ever elected to full professorship at Cambridge; biographical sketch by Pamela Jane Smith.
John Garstang
British archaeologist, excavated at Jericho, and Sakje-Geuzu and Mersin in Anatolia; founding director of the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem. From the Palestine Exploration Fund.
British archaeologist, excavated at Jericho, and Sakje-Geuzu and Mersin in Anatolia; founding director of the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem. From the Palestine Exploration Fund.
Hetty Goldman
From Florida Atlantic University's Jewish Heroes and Heroines in America, a biography of this pioneer woman archaeologist.
From Florida Atlantic University's Jewish Heroes and Heroines in America, a biography of this pioneer woman archaeologist.
Edith Hamilton
Edith Hamilton, educator and historian, influenced generations of high school students with her popularizations of Greek mythology. This brief biography is from the "Distinguished Women" site.
Edith Hamilton, educator and historian, influenced generations of high school students with her popularizations of Greek mythology. This brief biography is from the "Distinguished Women" site.
Emil Haury
American archaeologist who pioneered archaeological investigations with geoscientists, and championed dendrochronology; and is probably best known for his work in the American southwest with the Mogollon culture. From the National Academy of Science.
American archaeologist who pioneered archaeological investigations with geoscientists, and championed dendrochronology; and is probably best known for his work in the American southwest with the Mogollon culture. From the National Academy of Science.
William Henry Holmes
From the Smithsonian Institution, a brief biography of the early ethnographer, anthropologist, and archaeologist.
From the Smithsonian Institution, a brief biography of the early ethnographer, anthropologist, and archaeologist.
John Gilbert Hurst
British archaeologist John G. Hurst is considered one of the founders of Medieval archaeology. Obituary notice in the Guardian.
British archaeologist John G. Hurst is considered one of the founders of Medieval archaeology. Obituary notice in the Guardian.
Ales Hrdlicka
Hrdlicka was a physical anthropologist and tremendously influential scientist at the Smithsonian Institution in the first half of the 20th century; this web site is from the American Association of Physical Anthropologists.
Hrdlicka was a physical anthropologist and tremendously influential scientist at the Smithsonian Institution in the first half of the 20th century; this web site is from the American Association of Physical Anthropologists.
Kathleen Kenyon
British archaeologist, perhaps best known for excavating at Jericho; this web site from the Geography Department at the University of Lethbridge.
British archaeologist, perhaps best known for excavating at Jericho; this web site from the Geography Department at the University of Lethbridge.
Alfred Vincent Kidder
American archaeologist A.V. Kidder is primarily known for his work in the American southwest and with Maya sites. From the students at the University of Texas at Austin.
American archaeologist A.V. Kidder is primarily known for his work in the American southwest and with Maya sites. From the students at the University of Texas at Austin.
Gustav Heinrich Ralph von Koenigswald
German paleontologist and geologist, spent much of his career studying early prehuman Pithecanthropus in Java. This biographical sketch is from the Research Institute at the University of Senckenberg.
German paleontologist and geologist, spent much of his career studying early prehuman Pithecanthropus in Java. This biographical sketch is from the Research Institute at the University of Senckenberg.
Winifred Lamb
Classicist archaeologist and museum director (1894-1963).
Classicist archaeologist and museum director (1894-1963).
Edouard Armand Lartet
French paleontologist, Lartet spent a long time searching for conclusive evidence that humans and extinct mammals co-existed, and in 1863, at La Madelaine in the Dordogne valley, he succeeded. This brief biography is from XRefer.
French paleontologist, Lartet spent a long time searching for conclusive evidence that humans and extinct mammals co-existed, and in 1863, at La Madelaine in the Dordogne valley, he succeeded. This brief biography is from XRefer.
A.L. Kroeber
From the E-Museum in Minnesota, a pretty decent biography stressing Kroeber's importance to archaeology.
From the E-Museum in Minnesota, a pretty decent biography stressing Kroeber's importance to archaeology.
Fra Diego de Landa
From the E Museum at the University of Minnesota, a brief biography of the conflicted destroyer and preserver of the Maya culture.
From the E Museum at the University of Minnesota, a brief biography of the conflicted destroyer and preserver of the Maya culture.
Austen Henry Layard
Victorian age British archaeologist, Layard was trained as a lawyer and is best known as the discoverer of Nineveh. This biography is from the eMuseum at the University of Minnesota-Mankato.
Victorian age British archaeologist, Layard was trained as a lawyer and is best known as the discoverer of Nineveh. This biography is from the eMuseum at the University of Minnesota-Mankato.
Claude Levi-Strauss
Structuralist anthropologist, of immense influence on a wide range of sciences, including archaeology. This biography is from the Wikipedia.
Structuralist anthropologist, of immense influence on a wide range of sciences, including archaeology. This biography is from the Wikipedia.
Robert Armstrong Stewart Macalister
British archaeologist R.A.S. Macalister spent much of his career excavating in Syro-Palestine sites such as Tell el-Jazari, the biblical city of Gezer.
British archaeologist R.A.S. Macalister spent much of his career excavating in Syro-Palestine sites such as Tell el-Jazari, the biblical city of Gezer.
Thomas Robert Malthus
18th century Englishman Thomas Malthus argued that left to its own devices, human populations will always exceed their ability to produce food; a detailed biography from the History of Economic Thought website.
18th century Englishman Thomas Malthus argued that left to its own devices, human populations will always exceed their ability to produce food; a detailed biography from the History of Economic Thought website.
Robert King Merton
Sociologist R. K. Merton has been tremendously influential in many social sciences including archaeology; he developed middle range theory. A short biography followed by a lecture by Merton from the American Council of Learned Societies.
Sociologist R. K. Merton has been tremendously influential in many social sciences including archaeology; he developed middle range theory. A short biography followed by a lecture by Merton from the American Council of Learned Societies.
Eduard Meyer
German Egyptologist Eduard Meyer coined the phrase "the New Kingdom" referring to the 18th, 19th, and 20th Egyptian dynasties. This biography is from Humboldt University of Berlin; in German.
German Egyptologist Eduard Meyer coined the phrase "the New Kingdom" referring to the 18th, 19th, and 20th Egyptian dynasties. This biography is from Humboldt University of Berlin; in German.
William Flinders Petrie
A web page devoted to the inventor of the seriagraphic technique.
A web page devoted to the inventor of the seriagraphic technique.
Heinrich Schliemann
Heinrich Schliemann, the "Magnificently Obsessed" finder of Troy.
Heinrich Schliemann, the "Magnificently Obsessed" finder of Troy.
William Duncan Strong's Field Notes
From the Smithsonian Institution, a fascinating glimpse into the day-to-day workings of one of American archaeology's foremost researchers.
From the Smithsonian Institution, a fascinating glimpse into the day-to-day workings of one of American archaeology's foremost researchers.
Max Uhle
From La Aguada, a brief biographical note on the famous excavator of Argentina. In Spanish
From La Aguada, a brief biographical note on the famous excavator of Argentina. In Spanish
Ignacio Bernal
Ignacio Bernal was an influential pioneer of the study of Mexico's prehistory
Ignacio Bernal was an influential pioneer of the study of Mexico's prehistory
Frederick J. Bliss
British archaeologist Frederick J. Bliss is most known for his work in the Levantine for the Palestine Exploration Fund, with scholars such as Archibald Dickie and R.A.S. Macalister.
British archaeologist Frederick J. Bliss is most known for his work in the Levantine for the Palestine Exploration Fund, with scholars such as Archibald Dickie and R.A.S. Macalister.
Jacques Boucher de Perthes
A French customs officer with a thing for paleolithic axes; from Bob Kobres, a librarian at the University of Georgia.
A French customs officer with a thing for paleolithic axes; from Bob Kobres, a librarian at the University of Georgia.