George Reisner
George Andrew Reisner (November 5, 1867 - June 6, 1942) was an American archaeologist of Ancient Egypt. He was best-known for his methodlological excavations of pyramids and other Eqyptian sites in the early 1900s. Through his expeditions, Reisner discovered thousands of artifacts, including the tombs of ancient Egyptian roayalty, papayri, and other items of historical significance. He was famous for his meticulous approach to archeological excavations, keeping good records, and preservation of artifacts.
Life
George Andrew Reisner was born on November 5, 1867 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He studied at Jebel Barkal (The Holy Mountain), in Nubia. During this time he also explored mastabas. Even in his old age, despite suffering from progressive blindness, he worked on dictating manucripts. He died on June 6, 1942 in Giza, Egypt and is buried in the American cemetery in Mari Girgis, Cairo, Egypt.
Education
George Reisner recieved his undergraduate degree at Cambridge University graduating in the class of 1889. Then he went on to study at Harvard University recieving his A.B. in 1889 and A.M. in 1891. At Harvard, he recieved a study grant to research cuneiform at the University in Göttingen where he also studied under the egyptologist Adolf Erman(1845-1937) in Berlin, Germany. He recieved his Ph.D. in 1893 and wrote his dissertation on Semitic languages. His specialty was Assyriology and Semitic languages.
Work
- 1897–1899: Classified Egyptology collection of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo
- 1899-1905: Led the Hearst Expedition of the University of California to explore burial grounds at and around Qift
- 1905-1914: Assistant professor of Egyptology at Harvard University
- 1907-1909: Directed archaeological survey of Nubia (Nilotic Sudan) for Egyptian government
- 1910-1942: Curator of Egyptian collections at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts
- 1914-1942: Profess of Egyptology at Harvard University
- 1916–1923: Explored pyramids of Meroë, dug out temple at Napata
Legacy
Reisner uncovered the fact that the Nubian kings were not buried in the pyramids but outside of them. He also found the skull of a Nubian female (whom he thought was a king) which is now displayed in the Peabody Museum at Harvard. Reisner believed that Kerma was originally the base of an Egyptian governor and that these Egyptian rulers evolved into the independent monarchs of Kerma. He also created a list of Egyptian viceroys of Kush. He gained notoriety for finding the tomb of Queen Hetepheres the mother of King Khufu (Cheops in Greek) who built the Great Pyramid at Giza. Reisner rewrote the history of Nubia, and explored the world-famous Giza Pyramids. Through his methological approach, George Reisner has earned the reputation for being the father of modern scientific archeology. George Reisner, an experienced egyptologist, is ranked among the most important archaeologists of the twentieth centure. he worked duringa apart of the greate era of American museum-sponsored expeditions. As methods began to take on a more scientific perspective. Reisner developed a new method of documentation that proved to be more elaborate and methodical than that of Sir Flinders Petrie(1853-1942), making it the most methodical procedure used in egyptian excavations. Reisner was well-known for his humor and intelligence, even leading to the nickname "Papa George" used by his students. Reisner had excavated one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, the Giza pyramids, not to mention thousands of ancient artifcacts and hundreds of art masterpieces, rewritten Egypto-Nubian history, and changed the course of modern scientific archaeology.
Publications
- 1905: Edited The Hearst Medical Papyrus
- 1931: Wrote Mycerinus (alternative name of Menkaure)
- 1942: Published final work, A History of the Giza Necropolis
- 1942
- 1942
- 1942
- 1942
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Reisner Biography
- "Reisner, George Andrew." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2005. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 11 Nov. 2005 <http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9063116>.
External links
- Works by George Reisner. Project Gutenberg
Credits
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