1859 in archaeology explained

Below are notable events in archaeology that occurred in 1859.

Excavations

• February – Excavation of Viroconium Cornoviorum (Wroxeter) under Thomas Wright begins.
• Excavation of Nydam Mose in Denmark under Conrad Engelhardt begins (continues to early 1864).
• Excavation of Camirus on Rhodes under Alfred Biliotti begins (continues to 1864).^[1]

Finds

• Great Eleusinian Relief in Eleusis, Greece.^[2]
• Vigna Randanini Jewish catacombs in Rome.

Publications

• J. M. García publishes an account of Monte Albán.
• Charles Roach Smith — Illustrations of Roman London.

Miscellaneous

• 26 May & 2 June – Geologist Joseph Prestwich and amateur archaeologist John Evans report (to the Royal Society and Society of Antiquaries of London, respectively) the results of their investigations of gravel-pits in the Somme valley and elsewhere, extending human history back to what will become known as the Paleolithic Era.^{[3] [4]}
• Imperial Archaeological Commission founded in Saint Petersburg.
• Royal Geographical Society is given a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria.^[5]

Deaths

• 6 May: Alexander von Humboldt, explorer, writer

See also

• Table of years in archaeology
• 1858 in archaeology
• 1860 in archaeology

Notes and References

1. Book: Salmon, Nicholas. Archives and attribution: reconstructing the British Museum’s excavation of Kamiros. Schierup, Stine. Documenting Ancient Rhodes: Proceedings of an International Conference held at the National Museum of Denmark, 16–17 February 2017. Aarhus University Press. 2019. 98–112. 2022-11-20. Academia. Gōsta Enbom Monographs vol. 6.
2. Web site: Ten marble fragments of the Great Eleusinian Relief . December 5, 2023 . www.metmuseum.org .
3. Joseph. Prestwich. On the Occurrence of Flint-implements, associated with the Remains of Animals of Extinct Species in Beds of a late Geological Period, in France at Amiens and Abbeville, and in England at Hoxne. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. London. 150. 277–317. 10.1098/rstl.1860.0018. January 1860. 1860RSPT..150..277P. 2027/chi.098241705. 111126826 . free.
4. John. Evans. On the Occurrence of Flint Implements in undisturbed Beds of Gravel, Sand, and Clay. Archaeologia. London. 38. 2. 280–307. 24 February 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120222104124/http://bp.chadwyck.co.uk/marketing.do. 22 February 2012. live. January 1860. 10.1017/s0261340900001454.
5. Web site: DetaLegacies of British Slave-ownership. www.ucl.ac.uk. 28 July 2017. en.