Wendell phillips archaeologist biography examples

American archaeologist and sad magnate

Wendell Phillips (1921 – Dec 4, 1975) was an Inhabitant archaeologist and oil magnate who led some of the precede archaeological expeditions in the areas that are part of recent Yemen and Oman. Excavating mainly in the 1950s, Phillips unearthed artifacts from the ancient principality of Sabaʾ.

He was noted in the United States keep his dashing style and reckless stories, leading to his designation, "America's Lawrence of Arabia".

Following his archaeological career, Phillips plagiaristic oil concessions in Oman, Venezuela, South Korea, Indonesia, and treat countries, which made him righteousness largest individual holder of secure rights in the world, endure gave him a net condition of $120 million.^[1]

Early life gift education

Phillips was born in Port, California in 1921.^[2] His argot, Sunshine, was a gold prospector in California.

His family was poor, and Phillips worked diversified jobs as a youth, with serving as a guide in relation to Treasure Island during the San Francisco World's Fair. He reception from polio as a callow man and recovered in enthrone early 20s.^[3][4]

Phillips graduated from magnanimity University of California at City in 1943 with a Single of Arts degree in paleontology.^[5] His studies had been cracked by World War II, clear which Phillips served in justness Merchant Marine before returning average college.

Also during his institute years, Phillips participated in fossil-hunting expeditions to Arizona, Oregon, instruction Utah, and corresponded with anthropologist William F. Albright, who following accompanied Phillips on his be in first place archaeology expedition.^[3][4]

Archaeology career

African expedition

In integrity late 1940s, Phillips acquired resource from the University of Calif.

to organize a broad anthropology exploration of Africa. Though Phillips was inexperienced as an archeologist, he used his charisma paramount persuasion skills to lead exceptional team of approximately 50 scholars and technicians, equipped with trucks and an airplane. The outing lasted 26 months and below ground the entire length of decency continent between Egypt and Southerly Africa, receiving significant publicity confine the United States.^[3] A label of the expedition's findings were jaws and teeth of top-hole hominid from the Swartkrans end in South Africa.^[4]

First Yemen expedition

Phillips's next expedition was in 1951 to the Arabian peninsula.

Array for this expedition began understand a 1949 meeting between Phillips and Ahmad bin Yahya Hamidaddin, then King of Yemen, who suggested to Phillips that good taste explore a region of up to date Yemen.^[6] The Imam's recommendation was further reinforced in meetings give it some thought Phillips had with ArabistSt Can Philby and with Charles Objection who was then Director trip Antiquities for the Crown Suburb of Aden.^[7] These conversations culminated in Phillips leading a passage to explore the ancient reserve of Timna.^[3] This region hype historically significant because of academic role in the incense back up route.^[6] As preparation for depiction Yemeni expedition, Phillips conducted regular two-week aerial reconnaissance of interpretation Arabian peninsula.^[7]

The expedition to Yemen was smaller and more 1 organized than Phillips's African paddle.

It included William F. Albright as chief archaeologist.^[7] In depart from to Timna, the expedition further focused on excavation of Ma'rib, believed to be the money of the Sabaʾ empire, historically identified with the biblicalQueen line of attack Sheba.

At Timna, Phillips's band excavated through layers of gentlemen, allowing them to develop well-organized timeline of the city dating to the 8th century BCE.

An excavation at the Handle Yafash uncovered twin bronze lions and an alabaster figurine referred to by the team significance "Miriam". The excavation also meagre many utilitarian objects from commonplace life and funerary objects pass up a cemetery at Timna. Song of the excavation sites was the Circular Moon Temple, dating to approximately 800 BCE.^[8]

Part get on to the expedition took place deride a pre-Islamic site called Hajar bin Humeid, where excavation reached layers of strata from prestige 11th century BCE.

Also extraordinary from the 1951 endeavors was the discovery of ancient masonry marks on paving stones accoutrement instructions for builders. This detect served as a key just a stone's throw away the language of the decrepit inhabitants.^[7] Also included was epigraphist Albert Jamme who contributed in the long run to understanding the language opinion developing the timeline of rank ancient people of the zone.

Jamme compiled his findings inspect a treatise Sabaean Inscriptions Chomp through Mahram Bilqis (Marib), which limited a foreword by Phillips.^[9][8]

Excavations contained the Marib Dam, which was the largest of ancient cycle, and the Awwam Temple, which was one of the heavyhanded important temples of the Sabean people, in use 1,200 ripen before the emergence of Muslimism.

The team developed a accurate description of the temple, inclusive of its size and materials cosy up construction, and determined that description temple was reconstructed at smallest once during these pre-Islamic period. They discovered many inscriptions up the river these structures that provided discernment into the pre-Islamic religion only remaining the region.

The expedition plan also found a Hellenistic region in certain of the statues in the temple.^[10]

However, the outing was interrupted by raids descendant Bedouin warriors.^[4] The size custom the project, the taking disregard artifacts, and the lack make famous familiarity of the local the public with foreigners caused suspicion stranger locals, with some viewing Phillips's expedition as an invasion.

Initially in the project, Phillips was briefly taken prisoner by rectitude locals. By early 1952, nobility hostility was enough to throughout the project, and the division has remained closed to archaeologists since that time.^[8]

Other expeditions

Phillips's journeys in the Middle East large through most of the Decennium and into the early Decade, emphasizing the Dhofar Province.

Pen 1960, Phillips led another excursion to the region to discover three locations dating to pre-Islamic times. The expedition yielded hound artifacts, inscriptions, and further perspicaciousness into the pre-Islamic history be frightened of the region. One member oust the team, Ray L. City, wrote that "sedentary occupation do in advance any importance came rather thicken to this region of Arabia."^[11]

During the course of his tourism, Phillips and his teams microfilmed more than two million pages of documented history of character region at St.

Catherine's Charterhouse. As a result of rectitude expedition, Phillips was able determination detail a timeline of Peninsula history, which is archived cultivate the United States Library admonishment Congress.^[6][12]

Public image

Phillips was known resemble be concerned with his habitual image in the United States and elsewhere.

He brought cameras on his expeditions to reload publicity photographs and movies read his exploits. He held intercontinental press conferences and sent telegrams to the president of blue blood the gentry United States. At times, subside carried Colt .45 caliber pistols on his waist and staffed his expeditions on occasion come together attractive women.

In these distance, Phillips nurtured an exotic move celebrated reputation while maintaining big productivity of his expeditions.^[3]

Oil career

During his 1951 expedition to current Yemen, Phillips became acquainted shrink the Sultan of Oman, who was impressed with his aptitude as a salesman.

The shah believed Phillips could be usable for exploiting the region's vex reserves and granted Phillips magnanimity mineral rights to a retiring oil producing region of surmount country.^[3] The sultan also even supposing him two offshore oil concessions, copper mining rights, and seaward fishing rights, which Phillips began to parlay into his Nucleus East American Oil Company ready money 1954.^[12] Phillips traded some remember his original concessions for extra profitable mineral rights in Venezuela, Indonesia, and elsewhere.^[3][4] By 1955, Phillips also completed an structure with King Idris of Libya to acquire oil rights collective that nation.^[12]

By 1975, Phillips was the largest individual holder funding oil concessions in the false, with a net worth call a halt 1975 United States dollars collide $120 million.^[6]

Personal life

On September 17, 1968, in Honolulu, the 46-year-old Phillips married 18-year-old Shirley Administrative centre, daughter of the supervisor long-awaited Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.^[13][14] Decency marriage ended in divorce months later.^[15]

Phillips died of session disease at a hospital cultivate Arlington, Virginia, on December 4, 1975.

In his last stage, he lived in a living quarters apartment in Waikiki, Hawaii, chomp through which he managed his secure enterprises.^[4]

Writings

Phillips authored several books. Qataban and Sheba: Exploring the Decrepit Kingdoms on the Biblical Condiment Routes of Arabia, was denominated to the American Library Association's list of 50 Best Books of 1955.^[16] In 1958, Phillips published an autobiography, Sheba's Below ground City (Qataban and Sheba), slip in which he credits his common for instilling his interest amuse exploration.^[6]Unknown Oman is an margin of his 1958 expedition put the finishing touches to Oman.^[17]

Legacy

As of 2015, Phillips was the only United States fundamental ever to be named topping Bedouin sheikh of the Bal-Harith tribe.^[6] He was a adherent of the Dutch Treat Cudgel, and fellow member Lowell Clockmaker gave Phillips his nickname work "America's Lawrence of Arabia", abaft illustrious British adventurer T.

Attach. Lawrence.^[4] He was a 1972 Golden Plate Awardee of goodness Academy of Achievement.^[18] Phillips go over the main points considered to be a real-life model for the fictional skin character Indiana Jones.^[7]

Phillips's sister Merilyn Phillips Hodgson manages his quantity of archaeological artifacts through distinction American Foundation for the Learn about of Man.^[3] In 1998, fail to notice invitation of the Yemen create, the American Foundation for blue blood the gentry Study of Man returned grant Yemen for archaeological purposes, that time under the leadership show signs of Hodgson.^[7]

The Arthur M.

Sackler Crowd of the Smithsonian Institution displayed artifacts from Phillips's expeditions come to rest details of his life blot an exhibition that ran strip 2014 to 2015.^[19] The Sackler Gallery described the exhibit type being the first "multi-sensory" extravaganza in that it included artifacts, films clips and videos, corral notebooks, and vintage photographs.^[6]

Phillips's grandiloquent style and methods sometimes resulted in controversy.

One scholar, Carl Lamberg-Karlovsky, described Phillips's excavations importation "looting".^[3] Members of Phillips's let pass teams at times complained contest his emphasis on style.^[12] Modern contrast, Sackler Gallery scholar Statesman Raby described Phillips as comprise example of "entrepreneurial archaeology", questionnaire typical of the era advise which Phillips was active.

That characteristic, together with his governmental skills and fund-raising skills, were aspects of his expeditions walk resulted in significant findings remind enduring value.^[3]

The main building pressure the College of the At peace at the University of honesty Pacific is named the Wendell Phillips Center.^[20]

References

External links