Mortimer Wheeler (1890–1976) was a British archaeologist and army officer who served as Director of the National Museum of Wales and the London Museum, headed the Archaeological Survey of India, and wrote twenty-four books on archaeology. He argued that excavation and the recording of stratigraphic context required an increasingly scientific and methodical approach, developing the "Wheeler Method". In 1934, he established the Institute of Archaeology as part of the federal University of London, becoming its Honorary Director and overseeing excavations of the Roman sites at Lydney Park and Verulamium and the Iron Age hill fort of Maiden Castle. During World War II, he rose to the rank of brigadier, serving in the North African Campaign and the Allied invasion of Italy. In India, he oversaw excavations of sites at Harappa, Arikamedu, and Brahmagiri. In later life, his popular books, cruise ship lectures, and appearances on radio and television, particularly the BBC series Animal, Vegetable, Mineral?, helped to bring archaeology to a mass audience. Appointed Honorary Secretary of the British Academy, he raised large sums of money for archaeological projects.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortimer_Wheeler
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1793:
French Revolution: The Royalist counterrevolutionary army was decisively defeated in the Battle of Savenay, although fighting continued in the War in the Vendée for years afterward. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_the_Vend%C3%A9e
1876:
The Great Powers convened the Constantinople Conference to discuss political reforms both in Bosnia and in the Ottoman territories with a majority Bulgarian population. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople_Conference
1919:
The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 was enacted, lifting most of the existing common-law restrictions on women in the United Kingdom. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_Disqualification_(Removal)_Act_1919
1957:
Ian Craig of Australia became the youngest Test cricket captain in history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Craig
2010:
A monsoonal trough brought torrential rain to Queensland, causing massive flooding that killed 38 people and caused A$2.38 billion in damage. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%9311_Queensland_floods
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
pappardelle: A broad form of fettuccine, or a narrow form of lasagne, traditionally eaten with a meat sauce (especially one made with hare). https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pappardelle
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
For some people the revelation comes too late that life is best kept to the essentials. Some people are given their last rites and that person might say in their last breath, "I should have celebrated Festivus." --Jerry Stiller https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jerry_Stiller