Charles Higham (archaeologist)
Encyclopedia
Charles Higham is a British archaeologist most noted for his work in Southeast Asia
. Among his noted contributions to archaeology are his work (including several documentaries) about the Angkor
civilization in Cambodia
, and his current work at Ban Non Wat
. He is a professor at the University of Otago
in Dunedin, New Zealand and lives at Macandrew Bay.
Higham studied archaeology and anthropology at St. Catharine's College, Cambridge where he obtained a double first and was elected a senior scholar of his college. He also played in the University's rugby
team. Higham based his doctoral thesis on prehistoric economies in Switzerland and Denmark.
s. In 1968 he was appointed the Foundation Professor of Anthropology at the University of Otago.
In 1969 Higham met US archaeologists Wilhelm Solheim
, Donn Bayard and Chester Gorman
in Hawaii and in 1971, joined Gorman in the excavations in Northern Thailand at Banyan Valley Cave.
In 1974 they and Thai archaeologist Prisit Charoenwongsa studied the looted site of Ban Chiang
and discovered signs of bronze
working then erroneously dated to about 3500 BC. SInce then, his research at the Bronze Age sites of Ban Na Di, Nong Nor, Ban Lum Khao and Ban Non Wat have shown that the initial Bronze Age in this part of Southeast Asia began in the 11th century BC
In 1984 Higham joined forces with Thai archaeologist Rachanie Thorasat to excavate the mound of Khok Phanom Di, undertaking forensic analyses of skeletons and two well-preserved bodies, testing strontium isotopes and checked the soil for seeds and pollen. In 1994 Higham and Thosarat began a multidisciplinary program Origins of Angkor to study the region's Iron Age from around 500 BC.
As of 2009, Higham is leading excavations in Ban Non Wat
in Thailand, working with Thai archaeologists.
Charles Higham is a corresponding Fellow of the British Academy and an Honorary Fellow of St. Catharine's College Cambridge.
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. Among his noted contributions to archaeology are his work (including several documentaries) about the Angkor
Angkor
Angkor is a region of Cambodia that served as the seat of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from approximately the 9th to 15th centuries. The word Angkor is derived from the Sanskrit nagara , meaning "city"...
civilization in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, and his current work at Ban Non Wat
Ban Non Wat
Ban Non Wat is a village in central Thailand, in the Non Sung district, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, located near the small city of Phimai. It has been the subject of recent excavation of what are thought to be late neolithic and early bronze age burials...
. He is a professor at the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
in Dunedin, New Zealand and lives at Macandrew Bay.
Early years and education
Charles Higham's father was an architect. He became interested in archaeology at the age of 14 and, the following summer, he worked on the excavations at Snail Down near Stonehenge with his brother. Later he helped with excavations in Wales, France and Greece.Higham studied archaeology and anthropology at St. Catharine's College, Cambridge where he obtained a double first and was elected a senior scholar of his college. He also played in the University's rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
team. Higham based his doctoral thesis on prehistoric economies in Switzerland and Denmark.
Career
With Clarke's help, he was employed by the University of Otago and taught European prehistory. In 1967, he moved to New Zealand with his family. There he used shells from an ancient midden to study migrations of prehistoric Māori tribeIwi
In New Zealand society, iwi form the largest everyday social units in Māori culture. The word iwi means "'peoples' or 'nations'. In "the work of European writers which treat iwi and hapū as parts of a hierarchical structure", it has been used to mean "tribe" , or confederation of tribes,...
s. In 1968 he was appointed the Foundation Professor of Anthropology at the University of Otago.
In 1969 Higham met US archaeologists Wilhelm Solheim
Wilhelm Solheim
Wilhelm G. Solheim II is an American anthropologist recognized as most senior practitioner of archaeology in Southeast Asia, and as a pioneer in the study of Philippine and Southeast Asian prehistoric archaeology...
, Donn Bayard and Chester Gorman
Chester Gorman
Chester F. Gorman was an American anthropologist and archaeologist.Born in Oakland, California, he grew up on his parent's dairy farm in Elk Grove. He studied at the Sacramento State University and the University of Hawaii, where he also got his MA and his PhD.Chester Gorman worked mostly in...
in Hawaii and in 1971, joined Gorman in the excavations in Northern Thailand at Banyan Valley Cave.
In 1974 they and Thai archaeologist Prisit Charoenwongsa studied the looted site of Ban Chiang
Ban Chiang
Ban Chiang is an archeological site located in Nong Han district, Udon Thani Province, Thailand. It has been on the UNESCO world heritage list since 1992....
and discovered signs of bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
working then erroneously dated to about 3500 BC. SInce then, his research at the Bronze Age sites of Ban Na Di, Nong Nor, Ban Lum Khao and Ban Non Wat have shown that the initial Bronze Age in this part of Southeast Asia began in the 11th century BC
In 1984 Higham joined forces with Thai archaeologist Rachanie Thorasat to excavate the mound of Khok Phanom Di, undertaking forensic analyses of skeletons and two well-preserved bodies, testing strontium isotopes and checked the soil for seeds and pollen. In 1994 Higham and Thosarat began a multidisciplinary program Origins of Angkor to study the region's Iron Age from around 500 BC.
As of 2009, Higham is leading excavations in Ban Non Wat
Ban Non Wat
Ban Non Wat is a village in central Thailand, in the Non Sung district, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, located near the small city of Phimai. It has been the subject of recent excavation of what are thought to be late neolithic and early bronze age burials...
in Thailand, working with Thai archaeologists.
Charles Higham is a corresponding Fellow of the British Academy and an Honorary Fellow of St. Catharine's College Cambridge.
Publications (selection)
- Early Cultures of Mainland Southeast Asia, Art Media Resources 2003, ISBN 1-58886-028-0
- The Civilization of Angkor, University of California Press 2004, ISBN 0-520-24218-1
Sources
- Tom Gidwitz - Uncovering Ancient Thailand (Archaeology magazine July/August 2006)