John Robert Mortimer
Encyclopedia
John Robert Mortimer was an English corn-merchant and archaeologist who lived in Driffield
, Yorkshire
and was responsible for the excavation of many barrows
in that area, including Duggleby Howe
.
Mortimer's interest in archaeology was aroused as the result of visiting the Great Exhibition and the British Museum
during a visit to London in 1851. In company with his brother Robert he began collecting stone tools from the fields of the Yorkshire Wolds
. He also trained local farm workers and labourers to identify objects of archaeological interest. Mortimer would pay for these artefacts and stone tools soon became known on the Wolds as "Mortimers".
In 1860 Mortimer's curiosity was excited by the discovery of human remains during the quarrying of a barrow
on Painsthorpe
Wold. He visited the site repeatedly and made written notes as a result found himself wondering what was inside the many barrows that dotted the Wolds. In May 1863 Mortimer conducted his first actual excavation and by 1896 he and Robert had excavated approximately 360 barrows of Neolithic
, Bronze Age
or Iron Age
date. These excavations were finally published in 1905 as Forty Years Researches in British and Saxon Burial Mounds of East Yorkshire.
In 1877 Mortimer purchased land in Driffield and had constructed at his own expense a museum to house the results of his excavations.
Mortimer died in 1911 and in 1913 the 66,000 piece Mortimer collection of artifacts
and geological specimens was sold to Hull Corporation, the purchase being funded by a Colonel G.H. Clarke. It was transferred from Driffield to Hull in 1918 and finally went on display in the Victoria Galleries, Hull on the 1 October 1929.
The survival of the finds from his excavations, together with Mortimer's notes means that his work resulted in an important body of data for understanding the prehistory of eastern Yorkshire
.
Driffield
Driffield, also known as Great Driffield, is a market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The civil parish is formed by the town of Driffield and the village of Little Driffield....
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
and was responsible for the excavation of many barrows
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
in that area, including Duggleby Howe
Duggleby Howe
Duggleby Howe is one of thelargest round barrows in Britain, located on thesouthern side of the Great Wold Valley in the district of Ryedale, and isone of four such monuments in this area, known collectively as the...
.
Mortimer's interest in archaeology was aroused as the result of visiting the Great Exhibition and the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
during a visit to London in 1851. In company with his brother Robert he began collecting stone tools from the fields of the Yorkshire Wolds
Yorkshire Wolds
The Yorkshire Wolds are low hills in the counties of East Riding of Yorkshire and North Yorkshire in northeastern England. The name also applies to the district in which the hills lie....
. He also trained local farm workers and labourers to identify objects of archaeological interest. Mortimer would pay for these artefacts and stone tools soon became known on the Wolds as "Mortimers".
In 1860 Mortimer's curiosity was excited by the discovery of human remains during the quarrying of a barrow
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
on Painsthorpe
Painsthorpe
Painsthorpe is a hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.It is located about east of the village of Kirby Underdale, the area is remote - the nearest settlement of any size is the small town of Pocklington some to the south. It forms part of the civil parish of Kirby Underdale and was the...
Wold. He visited the site repeatedly and made written notes as a result found himself wondering what was inside the many barrows that dotted the Wolds. In May 1863 Mortimer conducted his first actual excavation and by 1896 he and Robert had excavated approximately 360 barrows of 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...
, Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
or Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
date. These excavations were finally published in 1905 as Forty Years Researches in British and Saxon Burial Mounds of East Yorkshire.
In 1877 Mortimer purchased land in Driffield and had constructed at his own expense a museum to house the results of his excavations.
Mortimer died in 1911 and in 1913 the 66,000 piece Mortimer collection of artifacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
and geological specimens was sold to Hull Corporation, the purchase being funded by a Colonel G.H. Clarke. It was transferred from Driffield to Hull in 1918 and finally went on display in the Victoria Galleries, Hull on the 1 October 1929.
The survival of the finds from his excavations, together with Mortimer's notes means that his work resulted in an important body of data for understanding the prehistory of eastern Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
.