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Flinders Petrie: A Life in Archaeology (Wisconsin Studies in Classics)

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Before William Flinders Petrie, there were great explorers and great adventurers, some of whom even made finds of tremendous archeological note in Egypt. But Flinders Petrie was the first great archeologist. Analogous to Edward R. Murrow's preeminence to this day as the standard against which all newscasters are measured, Flinders Petrie set the standard and laid the foundations for modern archeology. Today, one can study the science of archeology and obtain a degree. One can specialize in the school of Egyptology. Major universities and museums fund archeological digs. None of this existed when Flinders Petrie first embarked for Cairo in the late 1800's with little more than a bag, homemade tools and instruments, and very little money. How he came to return to Egypt and later Palestine year after year; how the study of Archeology/Egyptology was established at University College; how the theories of dating strata by studying potsherds was developed is fascinating stuff. For anyone who has been captured by the romance of rediscovering lost civilizations, this book is a must.

Margaret Drower accomplishes a well balanced, informative, authoritative, readable biography of a complex and remarkable individual in this book. Petries achievements are astounding, founding archaeology and egyptology as a professional science, over the course of his career he excavating numerous important and valuable sites, and was prolific in his documentation and publication of his findings, Petrie revolutionised the practice of archaeology, setting a standard of excellence that his juniors and contempories had to follow.

Drower examines his early life and family background to better understand the determined, driven and exacting man he became. Following the development of his methodologies through his seasons in Egypt, Drower also places Petrie in the context of the late nineteenth century academic circles, the friendships and politics which he was surrounded by and participated in.

An absorbing biography, valuable to anyone with an interest in archaeology, egyptology or wishing to learn more about a remarkable individual. A truely worthwhile read.

Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie had no formal education but discovered amazing things. He developed a mathamatical formula for discovering the unit of measurement early people used when building ancient monuments. He found that all measurements of Stonehenge and the pyramids at Giza were incorrect because they had preconceived ideas and used the wrong units for measuring. He built most of his own instruments and his own camera. His book, Seventy Years in Archaeology, is still a standard text in archaeology. Margaret Drowers book is the result of a collection of letters, journals, papers, and over 100 books by Sir Flinders. He had adventures that rival those of Indiana Jones. Fascinating reading.