Antonio Sagona facts for kids

Antonio (Tony) Giuseppe Sagona (1956 – 2017) was a famous archaeologist and professor. He taught at the University of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. Tony Sagona was known for his exciting work exploring ancient places and cultures.

Tony Sagona's Early Life and Education

Tony Sagona was born in Tripoli, Libya, on April 30, 1956. When he was four years old, in 1960, he moved with his parents, Salvatore and Maria, to Australia. They first settled in a town called Williamstown, Victoria.

Tony went to school at Emmanuel College, Altona. He finished his high school studies in 1973. After that, he studied at the University of Melbourne.

Becoming an Archaeologist

Tony Sagona earned his PhD in 1984. His special topic was the archaeology of the early Bronze Age. He studied a group of people called the Kura-Araxes culture from the Caucasus Region. His research was later published as a book.

While studying for his PhD, Tony also worked as a tutor at the university. When his teacher, Bill Culican, sadly passed away, Tony took over his classes. He then became a lecturer in Archaeology.

Rising Through the Ranks

Tony Sagona quickly became a respected professor. He was promoted to senior lecturer in 1989. In 1995, he became an associate professor. By 2006, he was a full Professor. Just before he passed away in 2017, he was given the special title of Emeritus Professor.

What Did Tony Sagona Study?

Tony Sagona wrote many books about the archaeology of the Near East. His main work involved exploring ancient towns, landscapes, and burial sites. He focused on areas like Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), the Caucasus, and Syria.

Discoveries in Turkey and the Caucasus

Tony's fieldwork covered a long period, from very old prehistoric times to more recent history. In Turkey, he led the first detailed archaeological studies in the Erzurum and Bayburt Provinces. This work helped scientists understand the history of the land east of the Euphrates River.

He also worked with the Georgian National Museum in the southern Caucasus. They explored an important site called Samtavro.

World War I Battlefields

From 2007, Tony Sagona also investigated the battlefields of Gallipoli. This was a famous site from World War I. He was part of a team that surveyed the ANZAC Battlefield. This project was for the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the New Zealand Ministry of Culture and Heritage. They worked with Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University in Turkey.

Awards and Recognition

Tony Sagona received many honors for his important work. In 2004, he became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. The next year, in 2005, he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.

He was also the editor of the Ancient Near Eastern Studies journal. He helped edit its book series too. In 2013, he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia. This is a very special award in Australia.

Tony Sagona's Passing

Tony Sagona passed away on June 29, 2017. He had been ill with a cancer-related sickness.