Thomas Gann

Thomas William Francis Gann ( born May 13, 1867 in Murrisk, Ireland, † February 24, 1938 in London) was a British doctor who dealt the first archaeologist with the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in the present territory of Belize.

Life and work

Gann grew up in Whitstable, The King's School in Canterbury visited and studied medicine. 1894, according to other sources 1892, he went to British Honduras (now Belize), where he worked as a surgeon, and should contribute to overcoming the consequences of an earthquake. In British Honduras, he also had the office of District Medical Officers and then to 1923 the Chief Medical Officers hold office.

In addition to his medical activities, Gann devoted to the archaeological ruins of the pre-Columbian Maya culture and was the first archaeologist in this part of Central America. He did not have adequate training. The explored by him facilities include the Santa Rita Corozal, Xunantunich (1894-1895, 1924), Nohmul (late 1890s, excavations 1908-1909 and 1935-1936 ), Lubaantun (1903, 1924-1925 ). When supported by the Carnegie Institution excavations he met Eric Thompson know, expeditions he undertook with the equally friendly Sylvanus Morley.

In addition to scientific contributions Gann published several travelogues, which were aimed at a wider audience and in addition to the presentation of archaeological topics partly also have ethno- graphical content.

From 1908 Gann worked as a professor at the newly founded Institute of Archaeology of the University of Liverpool, where at times, parts of its collections were kept. His activities in Liverpool eased from 1914. Information about future activities at the University, such as biographical considerations Eric Thompson, can not prove itself.

Gann was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Many of his finds were acquired by the British Museum.

He was married in 1929 to Mary Wheeler. He died at the age of 71 in a London nursing home.

Reception

From about 1895 Gann was taken up archaeological activity in his home country. In his book Decolonizing Development: Colonial Power and the Maya Joel Wainwright Thomas Gann describes as the most popular Mayan researchers of his time and certified him professional recognition during his creative period. The book Mystery cities was nevertheless marked by the "language of an amateur " and racist statements.

The archaeologist David M. Pendergast refers to the procedure for the Gann guided, and continued even in his absence excavations, as " destructive ". Another study comes to the conclusion that it had gone all about the "discovery aesthetically pleasing " found objects and less about careful excavations and documentation Gann. So Gann had explosives used to gain access to sites. In its reports, such methods were not mentioned. Norman Hammond gave up a retrospective assessment of the methods of Gann, but brings more restrictive regulations for dealing with historical sites in British Honduras from the years 1924 and 1929 with Gann's previous archaeological work in conjunction.

Writings (selection )

  • The Maya Indians of Southern Yucatan and Northern British Honduras. In: Bulletin ( Smithsonian Institution Bureau of American Ethnology. ). Washington 1918. ( Digitized in the Internet Archive )
  • In an Unknown Country. Duckworth, London, 1924. ( Digitized in the Internet Archive )
  • Mystery cities. Exploration and adventure in Lubaantun. Duckworth, London, 1925. ( Digitized in the Internet Archive )
  • Ancient cities and modern tribes: exploration and adventure in Maya lands. Duckworth, London, 1926.
  • Maya cities, a record of exploration and adventure in middle America. Duckworth, London, 1927.
  • Discoveries and adventures in Central America. Scribner, New York 1929. ( Digitized in the Internet Archive )
  • Eric Thompson: The History of the Maya From the Earliest Times to the Present Day. C. Scribner 's Son, New York, 1931.
  • Glories of the Maya. Duckworth, London, 1938.
  • Mary Gann, AJE Cave Archeological investigations in the Corozal district of British Honduras. In: Bulletin ( Smithsonian Institution Bureau of American Ethnology. ). 123, Washington, 1939.
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