The year 1955 in archaeology involved some significant events.

Explorations

* Thor Heyerdahl organizes the Norwegian Archaeological Expedition to Easter Island (continues to 1956). * Start of extensive discoveries at the Anglo-Saxon cemetery on Loveden Hill in Lincolnshire, England.

Excavations

* September -

Gustav Riek Johannes Gustav Riek (May 23, 1900 in Stuttgart − November 1, 1976 in Feldstetten) was a German archaeologist from the University of Tübingen who worked with the SS Ahnenerbe in their excavations, and led the teams that excavated the Vogelher ...

begins systematic excavations at

Brillenhöhle The Brillenhöhle (german: Brillenhöhle, literally ''spectacles cave'') is a cave ruin, located west of Ulm on the Swabian Alb in south-western Germany, where archaeological excavations have documented human habitation since as early as 30,000 ...

(continues to 1963). * A. C. O'Dell begins excavations on

St Ninian's Isle St Ninian's Isle is a small tied island connected by the largest tombolo in the UK to the south-western coast of the Mainland, Shetland, in Scotland. It is part of the civil parish of Dunrossness on the South Mainland. The tombolo, known locally ...

(continues to 1958). *

Alexander Sahinian Alexander Sahinian (; 15 July 1910 – 4 November 1982) was a Soviet Armenian architectural historian, who headed the Architecture Department of the Institute of Arts of the Armenian Academy of Sciences between 1958 and 1982. Born in Vardablur vil ...

begins excavations at

Etchmiadzin Cathedral Etchmiadzin Cathedral) or simply Etchmiadzin. Alternatively spelled as Echmiadzin, Ejmiatsin, and Edjmiadsin. ( hy, Էջմիածնի մայր տաճար, Ēǰmiatsni mayr tačar) is the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, located i ...

in Armenia (continues to 1956). *

A. Ledyard Smith A. Ledyard Smith (full name Augustus Ledyard Smith) (1901–1985) was an American archaeologist who worked on various projects in the Maya region on behalf of the Carnegie Institution, including Uaxactun. From 1958 to 1963 he led investigations ...

makes the first archaeological investigation of the Mayan site of

Chutixtiox Chutixtiox (alternatively spelled Xutixtiox, or Chu'Taxtyoox in the Sakapultek language) is an archaeological site of the ancient Maya civilization near Sacapulas, in the Quiché Department, Quiché department of modern Guatemala. The site was exc ...

Guatemala Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by H ...

. * Archaeological Survey of India begins excavations at Nagda chalcolithic site (continues to 1957). * A Hebrew University team led by Yigal Yadin begins excavations at Tel Hazor (continues to 1958). * Excavation of Qujialing culture type site in China begins (continues to 1957).

Publications

* Cyril Fox - ''Offa's Dyke: a Field Survey of the Western Frontier Works of Mercia in the Seventh and Eighth Centuries AD''. * Ivan D. Margary - ''Roman Roads in Britain'', vol. 1. * I. A. Richmond - ''Roman Britain'' ( Penguin Books).

Finds

* May 19 - Greenock Coin Hoard in Scotland. * Pesse canoe, the oldest known boat, in the Netherlands. * First remains of ''

Paranthropus boisei ''Paranthropus boisei'' is a species of australopithecine from the Early Pleistocene of East Africa about 2.5 to 1.15 million years ago. The holotype specimen, OH 5, was discovered by palaeoanthropologist Mary Leakey in 1959, and described by h ...

'' — teeth of Olduvai Hominin (OH) 3 — unearthed in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania.

Awards

Miscellaneous

* October - The term " Industrial archaeology" is popularised.

Births

* January 1 - Mary Beard, English Classicist. * April 20 -

Svante Pääbo Svante Pääbo (; born 20 April 1955) is a Swedish geneticist who specialises in the field of evolutionary genetics. As one of the founders of paleogenetics, he has worked extensively on the Neanderthal genome. In 1997, he became founding dire ...

Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

paleogeneticist. * September 30 - Martin Millett, English

Classical archaeologist Classical archaeology is the archaeological investigation of the Mediterranean civilizations of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Nineteenth-century archaeologists such as Heinrich Schliemann were drawn to study the societies they had read about i ...

Deaths

* January 1 -

Arthur C. Parker Arthur Caswell Parker (April 5, 1881 – January 1, 1955) was an American archaeologist, historian, folklorist, museologist and noted authority on Native American culture. Of Seneca and Scots-English descent, he was director of the Roc ...

, part- Seneca

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...

and ethnographer of Native Americans in the United States (b.

1881 Events January–March * January 1– 24 – Siege of Geok Tepe: Russian troops under General Mikhail Skobelev defeat the Turkomans. * January 13 – War of the Pacific – Battle of San Juan and Chorrillos: The C ...

). * March 31 -

Thomas Dunbabin Thomas James Dunbabin DSO (12 April 1911 – 31 March 1955), was an Australian classicist scholar and archaeologist of Tasmanian origin, as well as a renowned WWII soldier in Crete. Early life He was born in Hobart, Tasmania, on 12 April 1911. ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

n-born Classical archaeologist and Greek Resistance leader (b.

1911 A notable ongoing event was the Comparison of the Amundsen and Scott Expeditions, race for the South Pole. Events January * January 1 – A decade after federation, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory ...

). * August 17 -

Edward Thurlow Leeds Edward Thurlow Leeds (29 July 1877 – 17 August 1955) was an English archaeologist and museum curator. He was Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum from 1928 to 1945. Biography He was born in Eyebury, Peterborough on 29 July 1877, the second son of ...

, English archaeologist of the Anglo-Saxons (b.

1877 Events January–March * January 1 – Queen Victoria is proclaimed ''Empress of India'' by the ''Royal Titles Act 1876'', introduced by Benjamin Disraeli, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom . * January 8 – Great Sio ...

). * October 29 - Alexander Keiller, British archaeologist and benefactor (b.

1889 Events January–March * January 1 ** The total solar eclipse of January 1, 1889 is seen over parts of California and Nevada. ** Paiute spiritual leader Wovoka experiences a vision, leading to the start of the Ghost Dance movement in the ...

). * December 15 - V. E. Nash-Williams,

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...

archaeologist (b.

1897 Events January–March * January 2 – The International Alpha Omicron Pi sorority is founded, in New York City. * January 4 – A British force is ambushed by Chief Ologbosere, son-in-law of the ruler. This leads to a puniti ...

). * December 25 -

Thomas J. Preston, Jr. Thomas Jex Preston Jr. (October 26, 1862 – December 25, 1955) was an American archeology professor and academic administrator. Early life Preston was born on October 26, 1862, in Hastings on Hudson, New York. He graduated from Princeton Univer ...

, American archaeologist (b.

1862 Events January–March * January 1 – The United Kingdom annexes Lagos Island, in modern-day Nigeria. * January 6 – French intervention in Mexico: French, Spanish and British forces arrive in Veracruz, Mexico. * January ...

References

{{reflist Archaeology Archaeology Archaeology by year