Wheeler, Sir Mortimer

Wheeler, Sir Mortimer

▪ British archaeologist
in full  Sir Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler  
born Sept. 10, 1890, Glasgow, Scot.
died July 22, 1976, Leatherhead, near London, Eng.

      British archaeologist noted for his discoveries in Great Britain and India and for his advancement of scientific method in archaeology.

      After education at Bradford Grammar School and University College, London, and military service in World War I, Wheeler directed excavations of Roman remains in Essex in 1919–20. He received a Ph.D. from the University of London in 1920 and then conducted excavations in Wales (1921–27) and in Hertfordshire (1930–33), where he unearthed a pre-Roman settlement near St. Albans. Excavating at Maiden Castle in Dorset (1934–37), he found evidence of a settlement dating from the Neolithic Period, prior to 2000 BC. He conducted further excavations in Brittany and Normandy (1938–39).

      After serving in World War II, Wheeler was made director general of archaeology for the government of India (1944–47), where his research focused on the origins and development of the Indus civilization. From 1948 to 1955 he held the chair of archaeology of the Roman Provinces at the University of London's Institute of Archaeology. He was knighted in 1952 and made a Companion of Honour (Companions of Honour, Order of the) in 1967. His other distinctions included being chairman of the Ancient Monuments Board for England, a trustee of the British Museum, president of the Society of Antiquaries, and a fellow of the Royal Society. His numerous writings include an extensive number of technical works as well as the popular books Archaeology from the Earth (1954) and Still Digging (1955), an autobiography. Wheeler popularized his subject on television.

      Perhaps the most important of Wheeler's accomplishments were a focus on problem-oriented excavation and the creation of meticulous techniques for excavating sites and recording the materials therein. Among other innovations, he developed the use of a cartesian coordinate system, or three-dimensional grid, with which to record the location of materials found in archaeological excavations. Highly unusual at the time—archaeologists of his era were generally intent on acquiring beautiful objects rather than resolving questions about the past—his techniques have become de rigueur in the field.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sir Mortimer Wheeler — noun Scottish archaeologist (1890 1976) • Syn: ↑Wheeler, ↑Sir Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler • Instance Hypernyms: ↑archeologist, ↑archaeologist …   Useful english dictionary

  • Mortimer Wheeler — Born 10 September 1890 …   Wikipedia

  • Sir Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler — noun Scottish archaeologist (1890 1976) • Syn: ↑Wheeler, ↑Sir Mortimer Wheeler • Instance Hypernyms: ↑archeologist, ↑archaeologist …   Useful english dictionary

  • Mortimer Wheeler — Sir Mortimer Wheeler (10 de septiembre de 1890 22 de julio de 1976), fue un arqueólogo británico. Se convirtió en un referente sobre la investigación arqueológica al desarrollar la excavación estratigráfica, en la que se recogen materiales de un… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Mortimer Wheeler — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Wheeler. Sir Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler, CH, CIE, FRS, FBA, est un archéologue écossais (Glasgow, 10 septembre 1890 Londres, 22 juillet 1976), inventeur de la méthode de fouille dite « méthode de… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Mortimer Wheeler — Sir Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler (* 10. September 1890 in Glasgow; † 22. Juli 1976 in London) war ein britischer Archäologe und einer der wichtigsten Erforscher der Indus Kultur. Mortimer Wheeler war schon als Kind und Jugendlicher musisch begabt …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Wheeler — is a family name and may refer to:* Albert H. Wheeler (1915–1994), American academic and politician * Alison Wheeler (born 1972), British singer * Anne Wheeler (born 1946), Canadian film and television director * Benjamin Ide Wheeler (1854–1927) …   Wikipedia

  • Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler — Sir Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler (* 10. September 1890 in Glasgow; † 22. Juli 1976 in London) war ein britischer Archäologe und einer der wichtigsten Erforscher der Indus Kultur. Er studierte an der London University und erlangte 1912 seinen… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Méthode Wheeler — Mortimer Wheeler Pour les articles homonymes, voir Wheeler. Sir Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler est un archéologue écossais (Glasgow, 10 septembre 1890 Londres, 22 juillet 1976), inventeur de la méthode de fouille dite « méthode de… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Wheeler — /ˈwilə/ (say weeluh) noun Sir (Robert Eric) Mortimer, 1890–1976, Scottish archaeologist …  

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