description V. Gordon Childe Overview
Vere Gordon Childe (1892–1957) was an Australian-born archaeologist and academic who specialized in European prehistory. He is most famous for his work on the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, notably excavating the Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae in Scotland. Childe coined the concepts of the 'Neolithic Revolution' and 'Urban Revolution' to describe the major prehistoric transformations in human social organization, specifically the advent of agriculture and the rise of early cities. He authored numerous highly influential texts on archaeology and Marxist approaches to history.
insights Ranking position
V. Gordon Childe ranks #12 of 304 in the Anthropologist ranking, behind Svante Paabo, ahead of Mary Douglas.
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What is V. Gordon Childe's concept of the "Neolithic Revolution"?
Childe coined the term "Neolithic Revolution" to describe the dramatic transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture and settled life. The concept, introduced in his 1936 book "Man Makes Himself," remains a foundational idea in archaeological thought about how human societies transformed.
Did V. Gordon Childe excavate Skara Brae in Scotland?
Yes, Childe led excavations at Skara Brae, the Neolithic settlement on the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland. His work there revealed remarkably preserved stone houses and provided crucial evidence about daily life in Neolithic Britain.
Where did V. Gordon Childe hold academic positions?
Childe served as the Abercromby Professor of Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh from 1927 to 1946. He then became director of the Institute of Archaeology in London, a position he held until his retirement in 1956.
What was V. Gordon Childe's nationality?
Childe was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1892 and spent much of his academic career in Britain. He returned to Australia in 1957 and died there shortly after, having shaped the course of European prehistoric archaeology from abroad.
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