Don Brothwell
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Donald Reginald Brothwell, (1933 – 26 September 2016) was a British
archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...
,
anthropologist An anthropologist is a scientist engaged in the practice of anthropology. Anthropologists study aspects of humans within past and present societies. Social anthropology, cultural anthropology and philosophical anthropology study the norms, values ...
and academic, who specialised in human palaeoecology and
environmental archaeology Environmental archaeology is a sub-field of archaeology which emerged in the 1970s and is the science of reconstructing the relationships between past societies and the environments they lived in. The field represents an archaeological-palaeoec ...
. He had worked at the
University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
, the
British Museum The British Museum is a Museum, public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is the largest in the world. It documents the story of human cu ...
, and the Institute of Archaeology,
University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a collegiate university, federal Public university, public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The ...
, before ending his career as Professor of Human Palaeoecology at the
University of York The University of York (abbreviated as or ''York'' for Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a public Collegiate university, collegiate research university in York, England. Established in 1963, the university has expanded to more than thir ...
. He has been described as "one of the pioneers in the field of archaeological science".


Early life and education

Brothwell was born in 1933 in
Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located south-east of Sheffield and nor ...
, England. He began his involvement in archaeology as a teenager; this included analysing finds from a local gravel works, and excavating Anglo-Saxon skeletons at a local quarry with some school friends. He was involved in his first official
archaeological excavation In archaeology, excavation is the exposure, processing and recording of archaeological remains. An excavation site or "dig" is the area being studied. These locations range from one to several areas at a time during a project and can be condu ...
in
Thurgarton Thurgarton is a small Village#United Kingdom, village in rural Nottinghamshire, England. The village is close to Southwell, Nottinghamshire, Southwell, and Newark-on-Trent and still within commuting distance to Nottingham. It is served by Thur ...
, Nottinghamshire, where they excavated and recorded a number of medieval burials. Having finished
secondary school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., b ...
, he enrolled in
art college An art school is an educational institution with a primary focus on practice and related theory in the visual arts and design. This includes fine art – especially illustration, painting, contemporary art, sculpture, and graphic design. T ...
with the aim of becoming a teacher. However, after a year he returned to school to study for
A-Levels The A-level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational ...
in geology, biology, and chemistry. Having earned three A-Levels, Brothwell was offered a place at
University College London University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...
to study
anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, society, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including archaic humans. Social anthropology studies patterns of behav ...
. However, as he had completed his A-Levels a year later than most, at 19, he was immediately called up to serve his
National Service National service is a system of compulsory or voluntary government service, usually military service. Conscription is mandatory national service. The term ''national service'' comes from the United Kingdom's National Service (Armed Forces) Act ...
. With his interests in Quakerism and knowledge of his father's experience of
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, he became a
conscientious objector A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of conscience or religion. The term has also been extended to objecting to working for the military–indu ...
. He was prosecuted and ordered to pay a large fine (for which his father provided the money), but was called up for a second time after settling with the court. This time his refusal resulted in a prison sentence which he served at
HM Prison Lincoln HM Prison Lincoln is a Prison security categories in the United Kingdom, Category B men's prison, located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. The prison is operated by His Majesty's Prison Service. A category B prison whic ...
. He continued his interest in archaeology while imprisoned, including excavating a bulldog skull that he found in the yard during his daily exercise. Brothwell only served two months of a one-year sentence and was released in time to take up his place at University College London. From 1952 to 1956, while based in the Department of Anthropology, he studied a wide range of courses; these were mainly anthropology or archaeology related, but he also studied
geology Geology (). is a branch of natural science concerned with the Earth and other astronomical objects, the rocks of which they are composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Earth ...
,
zoology Zoology ( , ) is the scientific study of animals. Its studies include the anatomy, structure, embryology, Biological classification, classification, Ethology, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinction, extinct, and ...
, and genetics. He graduated in 1956 with a
Bachelor of Science A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, B.S., B.Sc., SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree that is awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Scienc ...
(BSc) degree. He then began a doctorate in
physical anthropology Biological anthropology, also known as physical anthropology, is a natural science discipline concerned with the biological and behavioral aspects of human beings, their extinct hominin ancestors, and related non-human primates, particularly from ...
, but he left without completing it after two years of research to take up his first academic position.


Academic career

In 1958, Brothwell joined the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology at the
University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
as a demonstrator. His duties involved teaching
biological anthropology Biological anthropology, also known as physical anthropology, is a natural science discipline concerned with the biological and behavioral aspects of human beings, their extinct hominin ancestors, and related non-human primates, particularly fro ...
, and his research was focused on physical anthropology, palaeopathology, human origins, and teeth. His research during this time led to him editing a volume with his colleague Eric Higgs, ''Science and Archaeology'' (1963), and a text book for archaeologists, ''Digging up Bones'' (1963). The demonstratorship was a time-limited appointment and after three to five years he would have to look for a new job. In 1961, Brothwell moved to the
British Museum The British Museum is a Museum, public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is the largest in the world. It documents the story of human cu ...
as Principal Scientific Officer and Head of Anthropology. This was a new sub-department of the museum but it grew quickly with donations of human skeletons from the
Royal College of Surgeons The Royal College of Surgeons is an ancient college (a form of corporation) established in England to regulate the activity of surgeons. Derivative organisations survive in many present and former members of the Commonwealth. These organisations ...
and the Department of Anatomy,
University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...
. During his twelve years at the British Museum, he held the "only funded professional position studying archaeological human skeletal remains in the United Kingdom". In 1974, Brothwell moved to the Institute of Archaeology,
University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a collegiate university, federal Public university, public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The ...
, having been appointed a senior lecturer in
zooarchaeology Zooarchaeology or archaeozoology merges the disciplines of zoology and archaeology, focusing on the analysis of animal remains within archaeological sites. This field, managed by specialists known as zooarchaeologists or faunal analysts, examines ...
. His research during this period extended from human remains to animal skeletons; this was very varied and included animal diseases, guinea pig domestication, and domestic pests. He was also interested in
bog bodies A bog body is a human cadaver that has been Natural mummy, naturally mummified in a Bog, peat bog. Such bodies, sometimes known as bog people, are both geographically and chronologically widespread, having been dated to between 8000 BC and the S ...
, and led a diverse team to investigate the
Lindow Man Lindow Man, also known as Lindow II and (in jest) as Pete Marsh, is the preserved bog body of a man discovered in a peat bog at Lindow Moss near Wilmslow in Cheshire, North West England. The remains were found on 1 August 1984 by commercia ...
in the 1980s. Perhaps because of his diverse research interests, he was never made a
professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other tertiary education, post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin ...
but he was promoted to reader. Brothwell left the Institute of Archaeology in 1993 having originally intended to take early retirement. However, that year he was offered and accepted the appointment of Professor of Human Palaeoecology in the Department of Archaeology at the
University of York The University of York (abbreviated as or ''York'' for Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a public Collegiate university, collegiate research university in York, England. Established in 1963, the university has expanded to more than thir ...
. He retired in 1999 and was appointed
emeritus professor ''Emeritus/Emerita'' () is an honorary title granted to someone who retires from a position of distinction, most commonly an academic faculty position, but is allowed to continue using the previous title, as in "professor emeritus". In some c ...
. In 1974, Brothwell founded the ''
Journal of Archaeological Science The ''Journal of Archaeological Science'' is a monthly peer-reviewed academic journal that covers "the development and application of scientific techniques and methodologies to all areas of archaeology". The journal was established in 1974 by Acad ...
''; from 1974 to 1993, he served as its Joint-Editor. From 1984 to 2004, he served as Editor of the ''Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology''.


Later life

After he retired, Brothwell continued with research projects including an investigation of
mummies A mummy is a dead human or an animal whose soft tissues and Organ (biology), organs have been preserved by either intentional or accidental exposure to Chemical substance, chemicals, extreme cold, very low humidity, or lack of air, so that the ...
in
Yemen Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Located in South Arabia, southern Arabia, it borders Saudi Arabia to Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, the north, Oman to Oman–Yemen border, the northeast, the south-eastern part ...
. As Emeritus Professor at University of York he continued to teach and supervise
postgraduates Postgraduate education, graduate education, or graduate school consists of academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications usually pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate (bachelor' ...
. From 2006 until his death, he was also an Honorary
Research Fellow A research fellow is an academic research position at a university or a similar research institution, usually for academic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a p ...
at
Durham University Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university in Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament (UK), Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by r ...
, where he taught on its master's degree in palaeopathology. Brothwell died on 26 September 2016, aged 83. On 7 October, his burial took place and a celebration of his life was held at the
King's Manor The King's Manor is a Grade I listed building in York, England, and is part of the University of York. It lies on Exhibition Square, in the city centre. History King's Manor was originally built to house the abbots of St Mary's Abbey, York. ...
in York (the main building of the University of York's Department of Archaeology).


Honours

In 1999, the year of Brothwell's retirement, a conference was held in his honour at the University of York. A number of papers from that conference were published as a
Festschrift In academia, a ''Festschrift'' (; plural, ''Festschriften'' ) is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during their lifetime. It generally takes the form of an edited volume, containing contributions from the h ...
in 2002. It was titled ''Bones and the Man: Studies in Honour of Don Brothwell'', was edited by Keith Dobney and Terry O'Connor, and included contributions by Graeme Barker and
Chris Stringer Christopher Brian Stringer is a British physical anthropologist noted for his work on human evolution. Biography Growing up in a working-class family in the East End of London, Stringer first took an interest in anthropology during primary s ...
.


Selected works

*With A. T. Sandison (eds.) 1967. ''Diseases in Antiquity.'' Springfield: Thomas. *With J. Baker. 1980. ''Animal Diseases in Archaeology.'' London: Academic Press. *1969. "The palaeopathology of Pleistocene and more recent mammals," pp 310–314. In Brothwell, D. and Higgs, E (eds.), ''Science in Archaeology.'' New York: Thames and Hudson. *1981. ''Digging up Bones.'' Third Edition. New York: Cornell University Press. *1988. "Smut, scab and pox: disease and environmental archaeology," pp273–277. In Bintliff, J.L., Davidson, D.A. and Grant, E.G. (eds.), ''Conceptual Issues in Environmental Archaeology.'' Edinburgh: University Press. *1988. "On zoonoses and their relevance to paleopathology," pp 18–22. In Ortner, D.J and Aufderheide, A.C (eds.). ''Human Paleopathology: Current Syntheses and Future Options.'' Washington and London: Smithsonian Institution Press. *With K. Dobney. 1988. "A Scanning Electron Microscope Study of Archaeological Dental Calculus," pp 372–385. In Olsen, S.L (ed.) ''Scanning Electron Microscopy in Archaeology. British Archaeological Reports International Series'' 452. Oxford: BAR. *1991. "Malocclusion and methodology: The problem and relevance of dental malalignment in animals." ''International Journal of Osteoarchaeology'' 1: 27–37. *1993. "Avian osteopathology and its evaluation." ''Archaeofauna'' 2: 33–43. * With K. Dobney, and A. Ervynck. 1996. "On the causes of perforations in archaeological domestic cattle skulls." ''International Journal of Osteoarchaeology'' 6: 471–487. *2000. "On the complex nature of microbial ecodynamics in relation to earlier human palaeoecology," in G. Bailey, R. Charles and N. Winder (eds) ''Human ecodynamics'' *2000. "Studies on skeletal and dental variation: a view across two centuries," in M. Cox and S. Mays (eds) ''Human osteology in archaeology and forensic science'' *2002. "Ancient avian osteopetrosis: the current state of knowledge. Proceedings of the 4th Meeting of the ICAZ Bird Working Group Kraków, Poland, 11–15 September 2001." ''Acta zoologica cracoviensia'' 45 (special issue): 315–318.


References


External links


In Memoriam page at University of York
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brothwell, Don 1933 births 2016 deaths British archaeologists British anthropologists Paleopathologists Fellows of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland Scientists from Nottingham British conscientious objectors Academics of the University of Cambridge Employees of the British Museum Academics of the UCL Institute of Archaeology Archaeologists of the University of York Alumni of University College London British academic journal editors