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‘A new Professor of a Somewhat Obscure Subject’: V. Gordon Childe at the London Institute of Archaeology, 1946–1956

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2017

David R. Harris
David R. Harris*
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, UK
*
[email: david.harris@ucl.ac.uk]
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Abstract

The context of Childe's decade as Director of the Institute of Archaeology and Professor of Prehistoric European Archaeology in the University of London is described. Particular attention is given to the circumstances leading to his appointment; his participation in a conference on ‘The Future of Archaeology’ held at the Institute in 1943; his inaugural lecture, ‘Archaeology as a Social Science’, delivered in 1946; his and Frederick Zeuner's involvement in the beginnings of radiocarbon dating; and his contrasted contributions as administrator, excavator, and teacher during his 10 years at the Institute.

L'article décrit le contexte de la décade pendant laquelle Childe était directeur de l'Institut d'Archéologie et professeur d'archéologie préhistorique européenne auprès de l'Université de Londres; plus particulièrement, quelles circonstances ont mené à sa nomination; sa participation à la conférence sur ‘Le Futur de l'Archéologie’ organisée à l'Institut en 1943; son cours inaugural ‘Archéologie comme science sociale’ en 1946; son engagement, ensemble avec Frederick Zeuner, envers les débuts de la datation au radiocarbone; et ses contributions contrastées comme administrateur, fouilleur et enseignant durant ses dix ans au sein de l'Institut.

Zusammenfassung

Zusammenfassung

In diesem Beitrag wird der Kontext von Childes Jahrzehnt als Direktor des Instituts für Archäologie und Professor für Prähistorische Archäologie Europas an der Universität London beschrieben. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit wird dabei den Umständen gewidmet, die zu seiner Ernennung führten sowie seiner Teilnahme an der Konferenz The Future of Archaeology des Institutes 1943, seinem 1946 vorgelegten Inaugurationsvortrag Archaeology as a Social Science, seiner und Frederick Zeuners Einbindung in die Anfänge der Radiokarbondatierung sowie seinen verschiedenen Beiträgen als Administrator, Ausgräber und Lehrer während seiner zehn Jahre am Institut.

Keywords

Frederick Zeunerhistory of archaeologyprehistoryradiocarbon datingUniversity of LondonVere Gordon ChildeFrederick Zeunerhistoire de l'Archéologiepréhistoiredatation au radiocarboneUniversité de LondresVere Gordon ChildeFrederick ZeunerGeschichte der ArchäologieVorgeschichteRadiokarbondatierungUniversität von LondonVere Gordon Childe
Type
Articles
Information
European Journal of Archaeology , Volume 12 , Issue 1-3 , 2009 , pp. 123 - 144
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 Sage Publications 

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