Encyclopedia, Difference between revisions of "Christian Jürgensen Thomsen" - New World
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[[Image:Christianjürgensenthomsen.png|thumb|right|Illustration of C.J. Thomsen from 1902.]] | [[Image:Christianjürgensenthomsen.png|thumb|right|Illustration of C.J. Thomsen from 1902.]] | ||
| − | '''Christian Jürgensen Thomsen''' (December 29, 1788 – May 21, 1865) was a [[Denmark|Danish]] [[archaeology|archaeologist]] | + | '''Christian Jürgensen Thomsen''' (December 29, 1788 – May 21, 1865) was a [[Denmark|Danish]] [[archaeology|archaeologist]]. He proposed the [[Three Age System]], for the chronological classification of [[prehistory|prehistoric]] artifacts, divided into the [[Stone Age|Stone]], [[Bronze Age|Bronze]], and [[Iron age]]s. |
==Life== | ==Life== | ||
| − | '''Christian Jürgensen Thomsen''' was born in Copenhagen, [[Denmark]], the son of a wealthy merchant. He initially started to work with his father, gradually developing his interest for [[archaeology]] and antiquities. | + | '''Christian Jürgensen Thomsen''' was born on December 29, 1788 in [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]], the son of a wealthy merchant. He initially started to work with his father, gradually developing his interest for [[archaeology]] and antiquities. |
| − | Although he lacked academic training, in 1816 he succeeded Rasmus Nyerup as Secretary of the Danish Royal Committee, being appointed the head of its | + | Although he lacked academic training, in 1816 he succeeded Rasmus Nyerup as Secretary of the Danish Royal Committee, being appointed the head of its "antiquarian" collection. That collection eventually developed into the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen, and Thomsen became the first curator of the [[museum]] in 1819. |
| − | Thomsen had a business spirit and knew how to attract general public. He used lively guided tours which presented certain parts of exhibitions with such | + | Thomsen had a [[business]] spirit and knew how to attract the general public. He used lively guided tours which presented certain parts of exhibitions with such imagination that people could vividly experience the past. This resulted in people starting to flock into museums. The first half of the nineteenth century is known today as the Golden Age of Danish [[museology]], the period when many museum collections in Copenhagen were reorganized based on Thomsen’s classification system. |
In 1841, Thomsen established the first [[ethnography|ethnographic]] museum in Copenhagen. | In 1841, Thomsen established the first [[ethnography|ethnographic]] museum in Copenhagen. | ||
| − | By the 1850s, most of Thomsen's collections were moved to Prinsens Palæ, the Crown Prince's Palace, an eighteenth century [[rococo]] palace in the center of Copenhagen, which in 1892 was reorganized into the present National Museum. His collection was glamorous, containing [[ | + | By the 1850s, most of Thomsen's collections were moved to Prinsens Palæ, the Crown Prince's Palace, an eighteenth century [[rococo]] palace in the center of Copenhagen, which in 1892 was reorganized into the present National Museum. His collection was glamorous, containing an ethnographic collection, a [[coin]] collection, and [[prehistory|prehistoric]] and historical collections. The museum eventually became famous not only in Copenhagen and Denmark, but all around [[Europe]]. |
| − | Thomsen died on May 21, 1865, in Copenhagen | + | Thomsen died on May 21, 1865, in Copenhagen. |
==Work== | ==Work== | ||
| − | Thomsen remains famous for his [[Three Age System]], | + | Thomsen remains famous for his [[Three Age System]], the chronological classification of [[prehistory|prehistoric]] artifacts. As the [[Europe]]an [[museum]]s became overrun with [[archaeology|archeological]] material, they needed a method of dating the material. Thomsen rejected random arrangements, in which museums used their own classification systems in arranging the displays. Thomsen believed that a better system could be devised, which would take into account the chronological sequence of when artifacts were made. |
| − | + | His system was based on a pure hypothesis of [[prehistory|prehistoric]] development. It suggested that early [[hominid]]s of [[Europe]] had gone through stages of [[technology|technological]] development, which were reflected in the production of [[tool]]s made of [[stone]], [[bronze]], and [[iron]]. Based on the raw material, Thomsen named the three prehistoric ages – '''Stone''', '''Bronze''', and '''Iron Age'''. | |
| − | + | Thomsen argued that nobody would use [[stone tool]]s if bronze tools were constructed, and that nobody would use bronze ones if [[iron]] tools were available. Following that logic, he hypothesized that human [[technology|technological]] development proceeded in stages, from more primitive to more advanced. Thomsen first explained his idea of three stages - [[Stone Age]], [[Bronze Age]] and [[Iron Age]] - in his work ''Ledetraad til nordisk Oldkyndighed'' (''Guidelines on Nordic Antiquarianism'') in 1836. | |
| − | Prior to Thomsen, [[Greece|Greek]] poet [[Hesiod]] | + | Prior to Thomsen, [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] poet [[Hesiod]] suggested four stages of human history - Age of the Gods (Golden Age), Age of the Demi-Gods (Silver Age), Age of the Hero (Bronze Age), and Age of Man (Iron Age). However, in contrast to Hesiod, whose ages decline, as humankind becomes more cruel and corrupt, Thomsen saw humans progress to higher levels of technological development. In the eighteenth century, [[France|French]] archaeologist [[Nicholas Mahudel]] had also proposed the categorization of prehistoric times into Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. In 1813, [[history|historian]] [[Videl-Simonson]] had suggested that earliest antiquities of [[Scandinavia]] were of [[wood]] and stone; and that only later appeared [[copper]] or iron tools. |
| − | Thomson's successor to the directorship of the National Museum of Denmark, [[Jens Jacob Asmussen Worsaae]], found evidence to support Thomson’s ideas. He tested the [[stratigraphy|stratigraphic]] soundness of the system, finding it valid - the layers of Stone Age tools underlaid those with bronze or iron. Worsaae published his results in 1843. It was the first time that scientific evidence existed to support the thesis of prehistoric | + | Thomson's successor to the directorship of the National Museum of Denmark, [[Jens Jacob Asmussen Worsaae]], found evidence to support Thomson’s ideas. He tested the [[stratigraphy|stratigraphic]] soundness of the system, finding it valid - the layers of Stone Age tools underlaid those with bronze or iron. Worsaae published his results in 1843. It was the first time that scientific evidence existed to support the thesis of three prehistoric ages. |
Thomsen also wrote one of the first systematic treatises on [[gold]] [[bracteate]]s, thin, single-sided gold coins produced in Northern Europe in the [[Migration period]]. He divided the typology for bracteates into several letter-named categories, a system introduced in an 1855 treatise named ''Om Guldbracteatene og Bracteaternes tidligeste Brug som Mynt''. | Thomsen also wrote one of the first systematic treatises on [[gold]] [[bracteate]]s, thin, single-sided gold coins produced in Northern Europe in the [[Migration period]]. He divided the typology for bracteates into several letter-named categories, a system introduced in an 1855 treatise named ''Om Guldbracteatene og Bracteaternes tidligeste Brug som Mynt''. | ||
| Line 38: | Line 38: | ||
==Legacy== | ==Legacy== | ||
| − | Thomsen's Three Age System was later modified into four ages, subdividing the [[Stone Age]] into the Old Stone (now [[Paleolithic]]) and New Stone ([[Neolithic]]) ages. [[Mesolithic]] (Middle Stone) Age and [[Chalcolithic]] (Copper and Stone) Age, were also added to the original | + | Thomsen's Three Age System was later modified into four ages, subdividing the [[Stone Age]] into the Old Stone (now [[Paleolithic]]) and New Stone ([[Neolithic]]) ages. [[Mesolithic]] (Middle Stone) Age, and [[Chalcolithic]] (Copper and Stone) Age, were also added to the original structure, and the term “Age” was replaced by “Period.” The full chronology subsequently existed as Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze, and Iron Periods. |
| − | The | + | The system has been strictly used to the describe the [[technology|technological]] ([[tool]]-using) development of peoples in [[Europe]], the [[Middle East]], and [[North Africa]]. Outside of those areas scientists have found development at different rates. Some [[culture]]s skipped some of the stages of development altogether. [[Amazon]]ian tribes, for example, still remain in the Neolithic period, while [[Africa]]n peoples south of [[Sahara]] skipped the Bronze Age and went straight from using stone to iron. |
==Publications== | ==Publications== | ||
Revision as of 15:17, 26 July 2007
Christian Jürgensen Thomsen (December 29, 1788 – May 21, 1865) was a Danish archaeologist. He proposed the Three Age System, for the chronological classification of prehistoric artifacts, divided into the Stone, Bronze, and Iron ages.
Life
Christian Jürgensen Thomsen was born on December 29, 1788 in Copenhagen, Denmark, the son of a wealthy merchant. He initially started to work with his father, gradually developing his interest for archaeology and antiquities.
Although he lacked academic training, in 1816 he succeeded Rasmus Nyerup as Secretary of the Danish Royal Committee, being appointed the head of its "antiquarian" collection. That collection eventually developed into the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen, and Thomsen became the first curator of the museum in 1819.
Thomsen had a business spirit and knew how to attract the general public. He used lively guided tours which presented certain parts of exhibitions with such imagination that people could vividly experience the past. This resulted in people starting to flock into museums. The first half of the nineteenth century is known today as the Golden Age of Danish museology, the period when many museum collections in Copenhagen were reorganized based on Thomsen’s classification system.
In 1841, Thomsen established the first ethnographic museum in Copenhagen.
By the 1850s, most of Thomsen's collections were moved to Prinsens Palæ, the Crown Prince's Palace, an eighteenth century rococo palace in the center of Copenhagen, which in 1892 was reorganized into the present National Museum. His collection was glamorous, containing an ethnographic collection, a coin collection, and prehistoric and historical collections. The museum eventually became famous not only in Copenhagen and Denmark, but all around Europe.
Thomsen died on May 21, 1865, in Copenhagen.
Work
Thomsen remains famous for his Three Age System, the chronological classification of prehistoric artifacts. As the European museums became overrun with archeological material, they needed a method of dating the material. Thomsen rejected random arrangements, in which museums used their own classification systems in arranging the displays. Thomsen believed that a better system could be devised, which would take into account the chronological sequence of when artifacts were made.
His system was based on a pure hypothesis of prehistoric development. It suggested that early hominids of Europe had gone through stages of technological development, which were reflected in the production of tools made of stone, bronze, and iron. Based on the raw material, Thomsen named the three prehistoric ages – Stone, Bronze, and Iron Age.
Thomsen argued that nobody would use stone tools if bronze tools were constructed, and that nobody would use bronze ones if iron tools were available. Following that logic, he hypothesized that human technological development proceeded in stages, from more primitive to more advanced. Thomsen first explained his idea of three stages - Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age - in his work Ledetraad til nordisk Oldkyndighed (Guidelines on Nordic Antiquarianism) in 1836.
Prior to Thomsen, Greek poet Hesiod suggested four stages of human history - Age of the Gods (Golden Age), Age of the Demi-Gods (Silver Age), Age of the Hero (Bronze Age), and Age of Man (Iron Age). However, in contrast to Hesiod, whose ages decline, as humankind becomes more cruel and corrupt, Thomsen saw humans progress to higher levels of technological development. In the eighteenth century, French archaeologist Nicholas Mahudel had also proposed the categorization of prehistoric times into Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. In 1813, historian Videl-Simonson had suggested that earliest antiquities of Scandinavia were of wood and stone; and that only later appeared copper or iron tools.
Thomson's successor to the directorship of the National Museum of Denmark, Jens Jacob Asmussen Worsaae, found evidence to support Thomson’s ideas. He tested the stratigraphic soundness of the system, finding it valid - the layers of Stone Age tools underlaid those with bronze or iron. Worsaae published his results in 1843. It was the first time that scientific evidence existed to support the thesis of three prehistoric ages.
Thomsen also wrote one of the first systematic treatises on gold bracteates, thin, single-sided gold coins produced in Northern Europe in the Migration period. He divided the typology for bracteates into several letter-named categories, a system introduced in an 1855 treatise named Om Guldbracteatene og Bracteaternes tidligeste Brug som Mynt.
Legacy
Thomsen's Three Age System was later modified into four ages, subdividing the Stone Age into the Old Stone (now Paleolithic) and New Stone (Neolithic) ages. Mesolithic (Middle Stone) Age, and Chalcolithic (Copper and Stone) Age, were also added to the original structure, and the term “Age” was replaced by “Period.” The full chronology subsequently existed as Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze, and Iron Periods.
The system has been strictly used to the describe the technological (tool-using) development of peoples in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Outside of those areas scientists have found development at different rates. Some cultures skipped some of the stages of development altogether. Amazonian tribes, for example, still remain in the Neolithic period, while African peoples south of Sahara skipped the Bronze Age and went straight from using stone to iron.
Publications
- Thomsen, Christian Jürgensen. 1831. Fortegnelse over Georg Friderich Timms undmærkede mynt- og medaille-samling. Kjöbenhavn: Schultz.
- Thomsen, Christian Jürgensen. 1836. Ledetraad til nordisk oldkyndighed. Kjöbenhavn: S.L. Møllers bogtr.
- Thomsen, Christian Jürgensen. 1855. Om guldbracteaterne og bracteaternes tidligste brug som mynt.
- Thomsen, Christian Jürgensen. 1857. Atlas de l'arehéologie du Nord représentant des échantillons de l'age de bronze et de l'age de fer. Copenhague: De l'imprimerie de Thiele.
- Thomsen, Christian Jürgensen. 1873. Catalogue de la collection de monnaies. Seconde partie: Les monnaies du moyen-age. Copenhague: Impr. de Thiele.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Olsen, Olaf. 1988. Christian Jürgensen Thomsen, 1788 - 29. december - 1988 / Det kongelige nordiske oldskriftselskab. Aarbøger for nordisk oldkyndighed og historie, 1988. København: Det kongelige nordiske oldskriftselskab.
- Trigger, Bruce G. 2006. A History of Archaeological Thought. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521840767
External links
- Christian Jürgensen Thomsen. Answers.com. Retrieved on July 7, 2007.
- Christian Jürgensen Thomsen. Minnesota State University at Mankato. Retrieved on July 7, 2007.
- Christian Jurgensen Thomsen – On Thomsen’s work Retrieved July 25, 2007.
- Nineteenth century archeology – Article by Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews Retrieved July 25, 2007.
- Nordisk Museology – On the work of C.J. Thomsen in the Journal on Nordic Museums and Museology Retrieved July 25, 2007.
- Three-ages system – Chronology of the Three Ages and Biblical periods Retrieved July 25, 2007.
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