Archaeological quotes of the week, from scientists and researchers in the field and associated scientists and thinkers from around the world, commenting on the past and how we can use it to understand the present and imagine the future. Use the Quick Index to find the quote of your favorite archaeologist, or scroll through this random sampling of the 200+ quotations.
A collection of over 200 pithy quotes from archaeologists and other witty types about the science of archaeology or the mysteries of history and the past and how truly strange, spotty, or wonderful a study it is. Listed alphabetically by author.
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Tasted the Archaeology Quote of the Day and find you need another course? This collection consists of the next fifty witticisms and bits of wisdom from archaeologists and related scientists, served to your mailbox daily.
Gusti Kollman, refugee from Hitler's reich, comments on the historical ironies of her life.
The importance of the past is not lost on people who are not necessarily deeply ensconced in the modern age.
A quote from Cherokee-Creek mezzo-soprano opera singer Tsianina Blackstone just what an insensitive clod an archaeologist can be, if he's a good friend of yours.
Former Israeli Ambassador Abba Eben may or may not have said this witty thing about wise men.
Henry Ford said 'History is bunk' in all kinds of ways; here's one he said in the Chicago Tribune that's a little different than the usual.
Mohandas Gandhi waged a battle for independence of the countries of India and Pakistan, independence against Western culture as much as Western government.
American patriot and rabble rouser Patrick Henry did think history was on his side.
Heinrich Himmler was a big fan of archaeology, especially of what archaeology could be made to do to support Hitler's Final Solution.
Walt Kelly, the writer who developed and maintained the Pogo comic strip, was a philosopher in his own right.
Artist Rene Magritte mentions his displeasure with the present, in this quote from a 1970 biography by Suzi Gablik.
Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz) was one of America's liberators.
This quote has been attributed to the Quaker minister and American founder William Penn.
Two quotes from the Bremer County (Iowa) Historical Society records prove that there are often at least two sides to every historical question.
Mao Zedong bemoans a lack of heroes in China's past