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.
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 [1840-1914] was one of those archaeologist-adventurers that we all tsk-tsk over, and yet secretly want to be.
From the National Academy of Science, a biography of the American Renaissance man, Charles Greeley Abbot.
It's not pretty, but it is thorough; a biography of Breasted from an eclip from Chicago Portraits, Biographies of 250 Famous Chicagoans.
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.
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.
Mexican archaeologist, did extensive work at Monte Alban and contributed much to our understanding of the Mixteca culture
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.
Decipherer of the Rosetta Stone; an article in KMT on the famous French archaeologist and linguist.
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.
A biography of Australian paleontologist Dart from the terrific Talk Origins site.
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.
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.
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.
British archaeologist, first woman ever elected to full professorship at Cambridge; biographical sketch by Pamela Jane Smith.
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.
From Florida Atlantic University's Jewish Heroes and Heroines in America, a biography of this pioneer woman archaeologist.
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.
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.
From the Smithsonian Institution, a brief biography of the early ethnographer, anthropologist, and archaeologist.
British archaeologist John G. Hurst is considered one of the founders of Medieval archaeology. Obituary notice in the Guardian.
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.
British archaeologist, perhaps best known for excavating at Jericho; this web site from the Geography Department at the University of Lethbridge.
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.
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.
Classicist archaeologist and museum director (1894-1963).
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.
From the E-Museum in Minnesota, a pretty decent biography stressing Kroeber's importance to archaeology.
From the E Museum at the University of Minnesota, a brief biography of the conflicted destroyer and preserver of the Maya culture.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A web page devoted to the inventor of the seriagraphic technique.
Heinrich Schliemann, the "Magnificently Obsessed" finder of Troy.
From the Smithsonian Institution, a fascinating glimpse into the day-to-day workings of one of American archaeology's foremost researchers.
From La Aguada, a brief biographical note on the famous excavator of Argentina. In Spanish
Ignacio Bernal was an influential pioneer of the study of Mexico's prehistory
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.
A French customs officer with a thing for paleolithic axes; from Bob Kobres, a librarian at the University of Georgia.
