John Pull
Encyclopedia
John Henry Pull was an unlikely archaeological hero. He started life as a soldier in World War I
where he learnt surveying skills. After a stint as a gramophone salesman he became a postman and a security guard but always his main interest was archaeology
. He was a key member of the Worthing Archaeological Society. He was responsible for the finding and excavation of some of the most important neolithic
sites in Southern Britain
including the Flint mines at Blackpatch, Harrow Hill
, Church Hill
, Cissbury
in Sussex
, England
in 1922. Because he was not a professional archaeologist, he was unpopular with some of the experts in the field at the time, who constantly shrugged off Pull's work as amateur and unimportant.
In the end, much of Pull's work and findings were given to Worthing Museum and Art Gallery
which holds a large archive. The main results of the Pull's excavations at Blackpatch, Church Hill and Cissbury between 1922 and 1956 housed in the archive were finally published in 2001 by Miles Russell of Bournemouth University
. Sadly, the earthworks comprising his first investigated site at Blackpatch were bulldozed over in the 1950s. Eighty years later, a Time Team
episode focused on the area of Pull's work and was able to confirm some of his presumptions about the site.
John Pull was killed and his work cut short when he was shot during a bank robbery while working as a bank guard.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
where he learnt surveying skills. After a stint as a gramophone salesman he became a postman and a security guard but always his main interest was archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
. He was a key member of the Worthing Archaeological Society. He was responsible for the finding and excavation of some of the most important neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
sites in Southern Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
including the Flint mines at Blackpatch, Harrow Hill
Harrow Hill, Gloucestershire
For the area of north west London see Harrow on the HillHarrow Hill is a village situated in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England. It is contiguous with the larger village of Drybrook. The village has its own football club, Harrow Hill F.C....
, Church Hill
Church Hill
Church Hill, also known as the St. John's Church Historic District, is an Old and Historic District in Richmond, Virginia. This district encompasses the original land plat of the city of Richmond. Church Hill is the eastern terminus of Broad Street, a major east-west thoroughfare in the Richmond...
, Cissbury
Cissbury
Cissbury is the name of a prehistoric site near the village of Findon around 5 miles north of Worthing in the English county of West Sussex. The site is managed by the National Trust....
in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1922. Because he was not a professional archaeologist, he was unpopular with some of the experts in the field at the time, who constantly shrugged off Pull's work as amateur and unimportant.
In the end, much of Pull's work and findings were given to Worthing Museum and Art Gallery
Worthing Museum and Art Gallery
Worthing Museum and Art Gallery is in the centre of Worthing near the grade II* listed St Paul's and is the largest museum in West Sussex. It celebrated its centenary in 2008.-Collections & Displays:...
which holds a large archive. The main results of the Pull's excavations at Blackpatch, Church Hill and Cissbury between 1922 and 1956 housed in the archive were finally published in 2001 by Miles Russell of Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University is a university in and around the large south coast town of Bournemouth, UK...
. Sadly, the earthworks comprising his first investigated site at Blackpatch were bulldozed over in the 1950s. Eighty years later, a Time Team
Time Team
Time Team is a British television series which has been aired on Channel 4 since 1994. Created by television producer Tim Taylor and presented by actor Tony Robinson, each episode features a team of specialists carrying out an archaeological dig over a period of three days, with Robinson explaining...
episode focused on the area of Pull's work and was able to confirm some of his presumptions about the site.
John Pull was killed and his work cut short when he was shot during a bank robbery while working as a bank guard.
Further reading
- Miles Russell, Rough quarries, rocks and hills : John Pull and the neolithic flint mines of Sussex, 2001