Clarence Stanley Fisher (August 17, 1876 – July 20, 1941), known as C. S. Fisher, was an American archaeologist.

Early life

Clarence Stanley Fisher was born on August 17, 1876 in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

. He graduated from the

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...

, where he studied architecture.

Career

Fisher devoted his career to

Near Eastern archaeology Near Eastern archaeology is a regional branch of the wider, global discipline of archaeology. It refers generally to the excavation and study of artifacts and material culture of the Near East from antiquity to the recent past. Definition The ...

. During World War I, Fisher was assigned to Egypt, where he worked under

George Reisner George Andrew Reisner Jr. (November 5, 1867 – June 6, 1942) was an American archaeologist of Ancient Egypt, Nubia and Palestine. Biography Reisner was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. His parents were George Andrew Reisner I and Mary Elizabeth ...

there and in Palestine and undertook excavations at

Dendera Dendera ( ar, دَنْدَرة ''Dandarah''; grc, Τεντυρις or Τεντυρα; Bohairic cop, ⲛⲓⲧⲉⲛⲧⲱⲣⲓ, translit=Nitentōri; Sahidic cop, ⲛⲓⲧⲛⲧⲱⲣⲉ, translit=Nitntōre), also spelled ''Denderah'', ancient ...

under the auspices of the

University Museum, University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology—commonly known as the Penn Museum—is an archaeology and anthropology museum at the University of Pennsylvania. It is located on Penn's campus in the University City neighb ...

. After the war, he undertook archaeological fieldwork in the Near East, still for the University Museum, for which he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science by the University in 1924. From 1925–1927, Fisher served as Director of the

Tel Megiddo Tel Megiddo ( he, תל מגידו; ar, مجیدو, Tell el- Mutesellim, ''lit.'' "Mound of the Governor"; gr, Μεγιδδώ, Megiddo) is the site of the ancient city of Megiddo, the remains of which form a tell (archaeological mound), situa ...

excavations, the site of the ancient city of Megiddo. Megiddo is known for its historical, geographical, and theological importance, especially under its Greek name

Armageddon According to the Book of Revelation in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, Armageddon (, from grc, Ἁρμαγεδών ''Harmagedōn'', Late Latin: , from Hebrew: ''Har Məgīddō'') is the prophesied location of a gathering of armies ...

. The excavation was conducted under the auspices of the Oriental Institute at the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chic ...

with funding from

John D. Rockefeller Jr. John Davison Rockefeller Jr. (January 29, 1874 – May 11, 1960) was an American financier and philanthropist, and the only son of Standard Oil co-founder John D. Rockefeller. He was involved in the development of the vast office complex in M ...

Fisher was succeeded as Director by P.L.O. Guy in 1927. Also in 1925, Fisher was appointed professor of Archaeology in the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR). He spent the years 1936–1940 compiling his monumental ''Corpus of Palestinian Pottery''. Fisher was the moving spirit in the founding of the Dar el-Awlad, Jerusalem, the Home for Children.

Death and legacy

Fisher died in Jerusalem. His papers, formerly housed at the Albright Institute, Jerusalem, are held in the archives of the American Schools of Oriental Research at

Boston University Boston University (BU) is a Private university, private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. The university is nonsectarian, but has a historical affiliation with the United Methodist Church. It was founded in 1839 by Methodists with ...

.Glueck, Nelson. "Clarence Stanley Fisher in memoriam", ''Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research'', no. 43 (1941:2–4).

Bibliography

*Fisher, Clarence S., 1929,
The Excavation of Armageddon
'' Oriental Institute Communications 4, University of Chicago Press

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fisher, Clarence Stanley 1876 births 1941 deaths Scientists from Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania alumni American archaeologists