Richard J. Harrison
Encyclopedia
Richard John Harrison is an archaeologist and Professor in the University of Bristol
, England. Harrison studied at Selwyn College, Cambridge, and gained his Bachelor’s degree in Archaeology
and Anthropology
from the University of Cambridge
in 1970. He held a Prize Fellowship at Harvard from 1970-1975, and was awarded his PhD in Anthropology from Harvard University
in 1975. His first employment was in the Department of Prehistoric and Roman-British Antiquites at the British Museum
, from where he moved to the University of Bristol as a Lecturer in 1976. In 1977 he was elected a Fellow
of the Society of Antiquaries
of London, and in 2003 to be a Corresponding Fellow of the Deutsches Archaeologisches Institut in Frankfurt
, Germany
.
Richard Harrison is known for his work on the Copper
and Bronze Age
s of Europe, in particular Spain
and Portugal
. He began with an interest in the problems that the Bell Beaker culture poses, which broadened to an interest in the reasons how and why Prehistoric societies changed in the manner they did. He has conducted excavations in Spain on the remains of four Bronze Age villages (dated 2600-1000 BC) in the region of Aragón
and published his findings (see the selected publications below). Harrison's excavations were supported for many years by the 'Earthwatch' programme.
A collaborative project for a 3 year study of Beaker cemeteries in Bavaria is supported by a grant from the Von Thyssen Stiftung. Its aim is to use the aDNA preserved in ancient skeletons to determine patterns of kinship, immigration and residence.
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
, England. Harrison studied at Selwyn College, Cambridge, and gained his Bachelor’s degree in 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...
and Anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
from the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1970. He held a Prize Fellowship at Harvard from 1970-1975, and was awarded his PhD in Anthropology from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1975. His first employment was in the Department of Prehistoric and Roman-British Antiquites at 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...
, from where he moved to the University of Bristol as a Lecturer in 1976. In 1977 he was elected a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
of London, and in 2003 to be a Corresponding Fellow of the Deutsches Archaeologisches Institut in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Richard Harrison is known for his work on the Copper
Copper Age
The Chalcolithic |stone]]") period or Copper Age, also known as the Eneolithic/Æneolithic , is a phase of the Bronze Age in which the addition of tin to copper to form bronze during smelting remained yet unknown by the metallurgists of the times...
and 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...
s of Europe, in particular Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. He began with an interest in the problems that the Bell Beaker culture poses, which broadened to an interest in the reasons how and why Prehistoric societies changed in the manner they did. He has conducted excavations in Spain on the remains of four Bronze Age villages (dated 2600-1000 BC) in the region of Aragón
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
and published his findings (see the selected publications below). Harrison's excavations were supported for many years by the 'Earthwatch' programme.
A collaborative project for a 3 year study of Beaker cemeteries in Bavaria is supported by a grant from the Von Thyssen Stiftung. Its aim is to use the aDNA preserved in ancient skeletons to determine patterns of kinship, immigration and residence.
Selected publications
- 2007—co-author V. Heyd. The Transformation of Europe in the 3rd Millennium BC Prähistorische Zeitschrift (Berlin) 82/2, pp. 129-214.
- 2007—Majaladares (Spain). A Bronze Age Village of Farmers, Hunters and Herders.ISSN 0939-0561X; ISBN 978-3-89646-379-1
- 2004 -- Symbols and Warriors: Images of the European Bronze Age.ISBN 09535418-7-8
- 1998 -- (co-authors M. T. Andrés Rupérez and G. Moreno López.) Un Poblado de la Edad del Bronce en El Castillo (Frías de Albarracín, Teruel). ISBN 0-86054-889-9
- 1996 -- (co-authors G. Moreno López and Anthony LeggeAnthony LeggeProfessor Anthony James Legge was born in Cambridge in 1939. After attending the Cambridge High School for Boys, he began work at the Institute of Animal Physiology, Babraham, Cambridge, in the Pig Physiology unit with Dr Lawrence Mount. After National Service, Legge returned to the Babraham...
). Moncín;Un Poblado de la Edad del Bronce (Borja, Zaragoza). Zaragoza; Ministerio de Cultura. ISBN 84-7753-468-3 - 1988 -- Spain at the Dawn of History: Iberians, Phoenicians and Greeks Thames and Hudson Ltd., London.
- 1980 -- The Beaker Folk: Copper Age Archaeology in Western Europe Thames and Hudson Ltd, London.
- 1977 -- The Bell Beaker Cultures of Spain and Portugal. American School of Prehistoric Research, Bulletin No. 35, Peabody Museum, Harvard University (Cambridge, Mass.).ISBN 0-87365-535-4