Biography Grahame Clark

1 biography

1.1 life: 1907–27
1.2 university education: 1927–34
1.3 career: 1935–39
1.4 second world war: 1939–45
1.5 post-war period: 1946–51
1.6 disney chair: 1952–72
1.7 later life: 1973–95

biography
early life: 1907–27

john grahame douglas clark born on 28 july 1907. eldest son of maude ethel grahame clark (née shaw) , charles douglas clark, latter being stockbroker , reserve officer in british army. family upper middle-class , moderately prosperous. lived in village of shortlands, near bromley in west kent. @ outbreak of first world war, charles clark joined west kent regiment , sent fight overseas. survived war, during return britain in 1919 succumbed influenza pandemic , died mid-journey. grahame clark grew without father, instead being raised mother , uncle whom had great affection. according available evidence, clark s childhood happy one. family moved seaford, coastal town on edge of sussex downs, young clark developing fascination prehistoric flint tools collected on downs.

in 1921 clark began education @ marlborough college in wiltshire, joined school s natural history society. aside interest in prehistoric tools—which earned him school nickname stones , bones —he fascinated butterflies , moths found in wiltshire. during time @ college visited archaeological excavation of windmill hill run alexander keiller, , became subscriber archaeological journal antiquity. interest in archaeology encouraged antiquity s editor, o. g. s. crawford, , published articles on prehistoric tools in natural history society s reports. having familiarised himself of literature on prehistory, including v. gordon childe s influential 1925 book dawn of european civilisation, in final year @ marlborough clark gave talk on subject of progress in prehistoric times . time left school committed idea of becoming professional archaeologist. in period prehistoric archaeologists non-professional hobbyists, , of few archaeological jobs available in museums.

university education: 1927–34

clark gained undergraduate , doctoral degrees peterhouse, cambridge

in 1920s britain there few universities taught courses in prehistory or archaeology. 1 university of oxford, although clark unsuccessful in attaining scholarship attend st john s college, oxford. turning university of cambridge, applied join peterhouse , while turned him down scholarship, admitted him pensioner , or student pays own tuition. began degree in 1927, , during first 2 years enrolled on history tripos. attended lectures economic historians michael postan, influence later archaeological approach economies of prehistoric societies. during these years had continued research archaeology on independent basis, producing articles on prehistoric stone tools published in journals sussex archaeological collections , proceedings of prehistoric society of east anglia.

in 1928 clark began studies in archaeology, taught alongside physical anthropology , social anthropology within university s anthropology department. department run disney professor ellis minns—whose ideas influenced clark—while archaeology curriculum largely organised miles burkitt, unpaid lecturer of private means. providing himself broad-based grounding in archaeology, clark sat in on lectures given archaeologists gertrude caton thompson, dorothy garrod, leonard woolley, , childe. although cambridge syllabus did not provide opportunities excavation, clark assisted non-professional archaeologist eliot curwen during excavations of whitehawk neolithic causewayed camp near brighton , trundle, iron age hillfort , neolithic causewayed enclosure near chichester. @ latter befriended 2 fellow excavators, stuart piggott , charles philips, became lifelong friends. visited number of mortimer wheeler s excavations, although never worked on them. clark graduated in 1930 first-class honours degree.

clark registered doctoral student, being awarded hugo de balsham studentship @ peterhouse 1930 1932, , bye fellowship 1932 1935. @ burkitt s suggestion, devoted thesis largely mesolithic—or middle stone age —period of british prehistory. @ time little known mesolithic britain few scholars had paid attention it, , of archaeological evidence consisted of scattered flint tools. burkitt served supervisor, although largely left clark own devices. clark familiarised himself evidence mesolithic society in continental europe travelling denmark , sweden in 1929, had chance meeting sophus müller. on return britain began systematic examination of mesolithic stone tool collections held in both museums , private collections across country, listing these many artefacts within database. able map distribution of such mesolithic tool assemblages across island.

clark learned excavate while assisting project @ trundle, iron age hillfort in sussex

on basis of research wrote mesolithic age in britain, published critical acclaim cambridge university press in 1932. book took conservative approach subject being heavily artefact-focused, although reflected clark s growing interest in ecology , role of mesolithic society in adapting climate change discussing technique of pollen analysis—which had been developed in scandinavia—as means of understanding ancient changes in vegetation. influenced childe, book rooted in theoretical perspective of culture-historical archaeology, presenting different styles of mesolithic tool representations of different cultures , in turn represented different peoples. mesolithic age in britain formed core of clark s completed thesis, titled mesolithic, neolithic, , metal age industries in britain , submitted in january 1934. after passing oral exam, conducted thomas kendrick @ british museum in london, clark awarded phd in 1934.

while conducting research, published number of research articles in scholarly journals such antiquity. in 1932, co-founded fenland research committee botanists harry , margaret godwin; represented loose association of specialists in different academic fields had interest in east anglian fenlands. clark served group s honorary secretary, , under him of committee s research projects promptly written , published. group excavated @ plantation farm near shippea hill, helping establish basic stratigraphic chronology of fenland s development. in 1934 carried out second excavation @ peacock s farm, important demonstrating advantages of interdisciplinary research , placing british prehistory within environmental framework.

in february 1932, clark elected council of prehistoric society of east anglia, , in may 1933 became acting editor of society s proceedings @ childe s recommendation. in february 1934 made permanent council member , honorary editor of proceedings. 1934, both clark , contemporaries piggott had become increasingly influential within british archaeological community. previously, in february 1933, burkitt had ensured clark elected fellow of society of antiquaries. clark himself unpopular in many archaeological circles, result of later biographer brian fagan described clark s tendency extremely critical, cruel toward others. during doctoral studies, entered relationship archaeology student @ girton college, cambridge named gwladys maud mollie white. in june 1933 couple assisted philips excavation of long barrow atop giant s hill near skendleby, lincolnshire.

early career: 1935–39

in july 1935, cambridge university s department of anthropology , archaeology employed clark assistant lecturer teach course on geochronology , climatic history , , following year position upgraded of faculty member. in position trained influential coterie of undergraduates in archaeology between 1935 , 1939, among them charles mcburney, bernard fagg, , j. desmond clark. in 1935, helped set cambridge university archaeology field unit , appointed honorary vice president. arranged undergraduate members of field unit assist him in march 1935 excavations @ mildenhall fen, discovered wealth of bronze age material. on course of 1937 , 1938 co-ran excavation of mesolithic site @ farnham non-professional w. f. rankine. excavation revealed stone tools, producing no ecological data , little evidence of structures. although rankine argued should produce lengthy report, clark wrote results 1939 article in proceedings of prehistoric society.

in february 1935 clark had suggested prehistoric society of east anglia rename prehistoric society, stretching remit far beyond east anglia. vote on issue produced overwhelming majority in support of change. membership of group grew rapidly; in 1935 had 353 members, , had increased 668 in 1938. under clark s lead, new proceedings of prehistoric society published articles prominent archaeologists childe, piggott, philips, , glyn daniel, , emphasised interdisciplinary examinations took account work of natural sciences. clark encouraged archaeologists working on non-british prehistory submit journal, , met prominent french archaeologist henri breuil on latter s visit cambridge.

in 1936, clark guided around danebirke german archaeologists

in summer of 1936, clark married mollie in st peter s church, chichester. embarked on honeymoon in norway , sweden, looking @ region s prehistoric rock art, on subject of clark produced illustrated article antiquity. later year, couple , philips embarked on road trip across northern europe, visiting archaeological sites danevirke , nydam boat. in germany spent time @ schleswig museum , met gustav schwantes, took them visit alfred rust s excavation of mesolithic site @ meiendorf. clark , rust got on , remained in contact many years. crossing denmark, trio involved in car crash near randers, clarks requiring hospitalisation 3 weeks.

in 1936, cambridge university press published clark s mesolithic settlement of northern europe, in demonstrated growing interest in ecological , environmental themes. book established clark being @ forefront of mesolithic archaeology, , hailed important , trend-setting tome influence generations of mesolithic archaeologists before becoming outdated due more detailed research. in 1939 methuen , co published clark s archaeology , society. textbook outlined how understand past societies through archaeology, , expressed view archaeology force peace in world promoting notions of human unity. in book condemned soviet archaeology, believing soviet government had forced archaeologists support pre-conceived marxist ideas societal , economic development. condemned use of archaeology in nazi germany , fascist italy, claiming used archaeology promote diseased nationalism . published reviews, book read , revised editions published in 1947 , 1952. according historian of archaeology pamela jane smith, became 1 of clark s read , respected publications.

second world war: 1939–45

clark s archaeological career put on hold during second world war. while awaiting enlistment british armed forces, clark took lessons in russian minns in order enable him read soviet archaeological publications. drafted royal air force (raf) volunteer reserve pilot officer, being posted central interpretative unit @ raf medmenham. there, served in aerial photograph interpretation unit, worked alongside fellow archaeologists daniel, garrod, piggott, philips, , mcburney. grouping allowed continuity in british archaeological community despite widespread cessation of active research. during period lived wife , 2 children @ small, isolated house in little marlow, buckinghamshire. in 1944 transferred air historical branch based in westminster, allowed him , family relocate cambridge house in barton road. clark used daily commute cambridge central london edit articles submitted proceedings. although meetings of prehistoric society cancelled duration of war, clark able keep journal going despite paper rationing.

clark read omnivorously , produced steady stream of academic articles in period. 1942 1948 published articles on such diverse subjects water, bees, sheep, fishing, , whale hunting in prehistory. these publications reflected interest in using recorded folk culture , historical evidence inspire fresh interpretations of archaeological material. in august 1943, clark gave opening address @ future of archaeology conference @ london s institute of archaeology. address published in antiquity. in it, clark claimed education in british schools parody of knowledge , rather emphasising competitiveness , preparing pupils future careers, education should focus on human well-being , helping students gain understanding of both , of humanity. claimed teaching of prehistory—a subject thought inheritance of humanity—would provide basis pupil s education. @ conference, had been among arguing after war field of archaeology should not allowed come under increasing state control, fearing doing might result in british archaeology taking on increasingly nationalistic characteristics, had in nazi germany.

post-war period: 1946–51

clark demobilised in 1946. returned cambridge university appointed full lecturer in archaeology, department under leadership of garrod. during war had written savagery civilisation, , published cobbett press in 1946. book utilised anthropologist edward burnett tylor s division of society categories of savagery, barbarism, , civilisation, although added innovation of dividing savagery higher , lower forms. fagan later noted in adopting tylor s tripartite division, book old-fashioned 1940s . during summer break of 1947, clark led team of undergraduates in excavation of bullock s haste along car dyke near cottenham, revealing evidence of romano-british activity. in 1947 , in 1948 awarded leverhulme fellowship allowed him travel across of northern , central europe. looked @ technologies , techniques of rural , fishing communities in of scandinavia, displaying interest in relationship between folk culture , ecology. expanded length of proceedings in years following war, aided piggott , kenneth oakley editorial assistants.

mesolithic barbed spear points found @ star carr

in 1946, childe resigned abercromby professor of archaeology @ university of edinburgh. clark applied succeed him, although position instead given piggott. piggott invited clark give munro lectures @ edinburgh in 1949. in 1950, elected fellowship @ peterhouse, position held next 45 years. @ college befriended colleague michael postan, economic historian research medieval farming techniques inspired clark reassess neolithic farming. in 1951 contributed chapter on use of folklore in interpreting prehistory festschrift devoted childe. fagan later described chapter 1 of clark s important papers. using munro lectures basis, clark wrote book, prehistoric europe: economic basis, reflected interest in ecology , impact had on economics of human society. book received mixed reviews, although described fagan arguably influential of clark s books . sold , translated several languages.

clark had been impressed gerhard bersu s excavation of iron age settlement of little woodbury in wiltshire in 1938 , 1939. after war, decided excavate iron age settlement nearer cambridge using same techniques bersu had used. amateur archaeologist had found iron age pottery on micklemoor hill near west harling in norfolk, , clark began excavation of site in 1948. however, before clark finish excavation, distracted new project.

in 1948, clark informed mesolithic flint scatter had been found in peaty deposits @ seamer carr in north yorkshire amateur archaeologist, john moore. clark visited site, known star carr, , realised may provide further evidence of mesolithic settlement. oversaw 3 seasons of excavation @ site, in summers of 1949, 1950, , 1951. project carried out on shoestring budget under auspices of cambridge university , prehistoric society. project consciously multidisciplinary, involving botanists beginning. fagan noted excavation methods adequate, although not mortimer wheeler standards . published results promptly, bringing out preliminary reports in 1949 , 1950 editions of proceedings. final monograph completed in december 1952 , published cambridge university press in 1954. according fagan, 1 of classic archaeological monographs of twentieth century . published reviews, , helped establish clark s reputation among archaeological community in united states. number of american excavations—such @ ozette indigenous village in washington—were influenced multidisciplinary approach.

disney chair: 1952–72

peterhouse

in 1952, garrod took retirement , clark selected replacement disney chair. mark status, cambridge university awarded him sc.d degree on basis of published work. in position avoided formal meetings , made decisions himself. failed obtain many resources department university administration, department therefore remaining small under tenure. did acquire funds hire research assistant, first being eric higgs. chair, encouraged staff in department prioritise research on teaching, , prioritise teaching of graduates on undergraduates. in position had little personal contact department s students, , encouraged them go abroad after education, believing best opportunities archaeological research lay outside britain. got on of staff, such john coles , mcburney, although not others, such glyn daniel.

over coming years sit on range of committees, including ancient monuments board, royal commission on historical monuments of england, management committee of institute of archaeology, prehistoric society, of journal remained editor. in 1951 had been elected fellow of british academy, , in 1953 gave academy s reckitt archaeological lecture, devoted discussion of prehistoric economies.

with project @ star carr completed, clark returned attention excavation of iron age settlement @ micklemoor hill. oversaw 2 further seasons of excavation in 1952 , 1953, overseen clare fell, assistant curator @ museum of archaeology. in 1954, clark made aware of neolithic pottery , worked flints had been discovered through excavation @ hurst fen near mildenhall in suffolk. believing evidence of neolithic settlement, oversaw project of excavation @ site in 1957 , 1958, although left of running of excavation higgs. clark disappointed excavation revealed number of scatters post-holes , pits no structures. site had nevertheless yielded important typological information neolithic pottery , provided greater knowledge neolithic period in eastern england. prove clark s final major excavation.

prehistoric europe brought clark wider visibility , resulted in first opportunity visit united states. in 1952 asked attend inaugural meeting of wenner gren foundation anthropology in new york city. @ event clark met american archaeologist gordon willey, became friend. in 1957 returned u.s. teach semester grant mccurdy lecturer @ harvard university. in 1958, clark published last piece of original research on mesolithic, article on trapez-shaped microliths proceedings. year spent time in france s dordogne region, visiting lascaux cave , hallam l. movius s excavation of abri pataud. in 1959, clark elected president of prehistoric society. in presidential address called less eurocentric , more global focus on research prehistory. end produced one-volume history of global prehistory, resulting in world prehistory: outline, published cambridge university press in 1961. despite title, on half of book devoted prehistory of western , central europe, reflecting how little known of world s distant past @ time. book proved immediate success , brought clark far greater visibility , opportunities.

during 1960s, clark spent increasing time visiting archaeological sites across world, including Çatalhöyük in turkey

in 1960, clark returned peacock farm oversee small excavation designed recover material subjected newly developed process of radiocarbon dating. grew increasingly interested in greek prehistory, , gained permit excavate neolithic nea nikomedia mound near veroia in eastern macedonia. did not lead excavation, took place in 1961, instead leaving student robert rodden, assisted fellow students david l. clarke, charles higham, , colin renfrew. after visited excavation, clark proceeded turkey visit james mellaart excavation of neolithic site @ Çatalhöyük. clark furthered interest in south-eastern europe writing article proceedings synthesised newly discovered radiocarbon dates argue farming spread across europe greece , western balkans.

in 1964 clark made first visit antipodes spent time william evans professor @ otago university in new zealand, using opportunity learn more maori prehistory. in may of year used commonwealth visiting scholars appointment fund period in australia, spent time @ university of sydney, queensland museum, , australian museum. visited vincent megaw s excavation of curracurrang rock shelter , taken norman tindale witness living hunter-gatherer society @ papunya indigenous community. in november 1965, undertook lecture tour of u.s., giving talks @ pennsylvania state university, temple university, university of michigan, university of chicago, university of colorado, , colorado women s college. year hutchinson published book clark had co-written piggott, prehistoric societies, , in 1967 thames , hudson published clark s coffee table book, stone age hunters. in 1968 published revised second edition of world prehistory, although attracted criticism archaeologists studying africa making significant errors continent. in 1968 travelled via moscow japan in order attend international conference of anthropological , ethnological sciences, using trip spend time in taiwan, philippines, , new zealand. in 1969 appointed visiting hitchcock professor @ university of california-berkeley; lectures there published aspects of prehistory university of california press in 1970.

in 1970, clark retired editor of proceedings. in 1972, clark spent time @ uppsala university visiting professor. same year, clark returned subject of star carr publish book undergraduate students, star carr: case study in bioarchaeology. towards end of career, clark given range of awards in recognition of research output: smithsonian institution s hodgkins medal in 1967, wenner-gren foundation s viking fund medal in 1971, commander of british empire in 1971, university of pennsylvania s lucy wharton old medal in 1974, society of antiquaries gold medal in 1978, , asiatic society s chandra medal in 1979. 2 festschrift s produced in honour: 1971 volume of proceedings devoted him, while in 1976, gale de giberne sieveking, ian h. longworth, , kenneth e. wilson produced edited volume problems in economic , social archaeology, again dedicated clark.

later life: 1973–95

clark retired disney professor in 1974. 1973 until 1980 served master of peterhouse, in became of happiest years of life. in 1975, revised may of ideas on mesolithic northern europe earlier stone age settlement of scandinavia. book not received, many archaeologists working on scandinavian material deeming outdated. in 1976 made coast-to-coast trip across canada, , year chaired first meeting of science-based archaeological committee, had been established science research council in order distribute funds archaeological projects. in 1977 published third edition of world prehistory, retitled world prehistory in new perspective. 1974 1978 chaired british academy s section ten, devoted archaeology , anthropology. in 1978 travelled new delhi attend wheeler memorial lecture of archaeological survey of india @ invite of b. k. thapar.

in 1980, clark s short book, mesolithic prelude published, based on 1979 munro lecture. in 1982, methuen published clark s identity of man seen archaeologist, in argued cultural diversity underlay process of humanisation. book received few reviews, including 1 produced edmund leach nature highly critical, claiming clark s functionalist , culturally evolutionary approach outdated. produced sequel, symbols of excellence, allowed him discuss interest in art; published cambridge university press in 1986. in 1989, clark s prehistory @ cambridge , beyond published, work part-biography , part-history of archaeology, discussing broad diaspora of cambridge-trained archaeologists. clark s final book, space, time, , man: prehistorian s view, published cambridge university press in 1992. book dealt concepts of time , place throughout ages , received few reviews on publication. according fagan, clark s later books based on values of earlier time , reflect profound conservatism , perhaps reflecting why received little attention.

in final years, clark continued receive recognition achievements. netherlands foundation awarded him erasmus prize in 1990. divided £100,000 prize money between british academy , prehistoric society, allowing both establish own prizes. in 1992, british state awarded him knighthood. while on cruise in eastern mediterranean wife, clark suffered serious stroke in june 1995, requiring return home. there, died in cambridge on 12 september 1995. memorial service held @ little st mary s, cambridge. 1 of fellow staff members @ cambridge, john coles, appointed literary executor of books , papers.