Thornton, A.;
(2011)
British archaeologists, social networks and the emergence of a profession.
Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London).
Abstract
My research into the history of archaeology centres on the lives and social networks of five British archaeologists: George and Agnes Horsfield, John and Molly Crowfoot and John Garstang, and explores various themes in the development of archaeology from 1870-1939. These themes include the education of archaeologists, the development of archaeological training institutions, and the institutionalisation of archaeology at university level; the relationship between archaeology and architecture/architects in the development of departments of antiquities in the unofficial British empire; the relationship between archaeologists, art historians and artists; fundraising and patronage, and networks in the history of archaeology. Exposing the facets of the connections between archaeologists, politicians and practitioners of various disciplines broadens our understanding of how archaeological knowledge was collected. It illuminates the social historical context to archaeological work conducted by Britons abroad, specifically those archaeologists working in Egypt, the Sudan, Palestine and Transjordan. It also highlights the differences and similarities between men and women in archaeology. Using broad categories to map and highlight different kinds of connections between people, places and organisations, I examine the development of archaeology as a discipline, including a wide variety of practitioners often overlooked in traditional histories of archaeology. These connections have their roots in the social and political history of Britain and the British Empire, the context of a large proportion of late 19th and early 20th century archaeology. This research proposes that, as archaeological work, unlike many other scholarly activities, was conducted with the permission, aid and/or oversight of government officials, politicians, military officers, patrons, art historians, architects and artists - they all contributed to the development of archaeological methods and practice. The history of archaeology should reflect the complex network of organisations, transactions and personal relationships which make up the reality of archaeological work, while illuminating the historical, political and economic context in which such work took place.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Title: | British archaeologists, social networks and the emergence of a profession |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Permission for digitisation not received |
| UCL classification: | UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1318140 |
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