Sophus Otto Müller (24 May 1846 - 23 February 1934) was a Danish

archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...

Biography

He was born in

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...

, the son of C. Louis Müller. Sophus studied classical philology at

Copenhagen University The University of Copenhagen (, KU) is a public research university in Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the second-oldest university in Scandinavia, after Uppsala University. The University of Copenhagen c ...

, graduating cand.philol. in 1871. He conducted a study trip to Germany, Switzerland, and Italy during 1872-73. He became a teacher until 1876, while assisting at the

National Museum of Denmark The National Museum of Denmark (Nationalmuseet) in Copenhagen is Denmark, Denmark's largest museum of cultural history, comprising the histories of Danish and foreign cultures, alike. The museum's main building is located a short distance from S ...

. He was hired by the museum in 1878, and graduated with a Ph.D. in 1880 with the essay ''Dyreornamentiken i Norden''. He discovered the single burial mounds of central

Jutland Jutland (; , ''Jyske Halvø'' or ''Cimbriske Halvø''; , ''Kimbrische Halbinsel'' or ''Jütische Halbinsel'') is a peninsula of Northern Europe that forms the continental portion of Denmark and part of northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein). It ...

. This discovery was the first proof of Middle Neolithic Periods in Scandinavia. After 1881 he was secretary at the ''Royal Archaeological Society'' and edited ''Aarböger for Nordisk Oldkyndighed'' and ''Nordiske Fortidsminder''. In 1885, he was an inspector at the museum, then, when the museum was being re-organized as the

Danish National Museum The National Museum of Denmark (Nationalmuseet) in Copenhagen is Denmark's largest museum of cultural history, comprising the histories of Danish and foreign cultures, alike. The museum's main building is located a short distance from Strøget ...

, he was the director of the ancient history section in 1892. In 1895, he was named the museum's director. In 1888, his two-volume work ''Ordning af Danmarks Oldsager'' (''The Arrangement of Denmark's Antiquities'') was published. He wrote a prehistory of Denmark, which was published as ''Vor Oldtid'' (''Our Prehistory'') in 1897.He retired from the museum in 1921. Müller became a Knight of

Order of the Dannebrog The Order of the Dannebrog () is a Denmark, Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V of Denmark, Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the Order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single cla ...

1889, Dannebrogsmand 1901, Commander of 2nd degree 1913 and of 1st degree 1921. He died at

Frederiksberg Frederiksberg () is a part of the Capital Region of Denmark. It is an independent municipality, Frederiksberg Municipality, separate from Copenhagen Municipality, but both are a part of the region of Copenhagen. It occupies an area of less tha ...

and was buried at Skoven Kirkegård.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mueller, Sophus Otto 1846 births 1934 deaths Danish archaeologists University of Copenhagen alumni People associated with the National Museum of Denmark Scientists from Copenhagen Commanders First Class of the Order of the Dannebrog

Biography

See also

References