Basil Hennessy facts for kids

John Basil Hennessy (born 1925, died 2013) was an Australian archaeologist. An archaeologist is like a history detective who digs up old things to learn about the past! He studied the Ancient Near East, which is a region in the Middle East where some of the world's oldest civilizations began. He was also a respected professor at the University of Sydney.

Childhood and Learning

John Hennessy was born in Horsham, Victoria, Australia in 1925. He was the oldest child in his family. He went to school in Ballarat, a town close to where he grew up.

When he was 17, John left school to join the Royal Australian Navy. He served in the navy until 1946. After leaving the military, he started studying at the University of Sydney in 1947. He first planned to study anthropology, which is the study of human societies and cultures.

But in 1948, something exciting happened! Two professors, Arthur Dale Trendall and James Stewart, started a new Department of Archaeology at the university. John Hennessy was one of the very first students to join this new department.

Adventures Abroad

John Hennessy finished his first degree in 1950. After that, he went on an amazing trip through the Middle East. His journey ended in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey.

In Ankara, he received a special scholarship. This scholarship allowed him to be the first student at the new British School of Archaeology in Ankara.

At the end of 1951, John went to Jerusalem. He joined an important archaeological dig at a place called Jericho. This dig was led by a famous archaeologist named Kathleen Kenyon.

At Jericho, John learned a special way of digging called the Wheeler-Kenyon technique. This method helps archaeologists understand the different layers of soil and what they find in each layer. He used this technique a lot in his own digs later on.

After his adventures, John returned to Australia. He married Ruth Shannon in 1954, and they later had three children.

Teaching and Studying in England

In 1954, John Hennessy started working at the Department of Archaeology at the University of Sydney. He began as a temporary lecturer and then became a full-time lecturer.

In 1962, John and his family moved to England. John wanted to continue his studies at Oxford University. He studied at Magdalen College from 1962 to 1964.

He earned his special doctorate degree, called a DPhil, under the guidance of Kathleen Kenyon. His research was about the connections between ancient Palestine and other places during the Early Bronze Age. His work is still an important book for people studying that time period.

Years in Jerusalem

After finishing his doctorate, John Hennessy became closely involved with the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem. He became the Assistant Director in 1965 and then the Deputy Director later that year. In 1966, he became the full Director and stayed in that role until 1970.

During these years, John led several important archaeological digs:

• At the Damascus Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem (1964–1966).
• At the Amman Airport Temple (1966).
• At Teleilat Ghassul (1967).
• At Samaria (1968).

Back to Sydney

John Hennessy left Jerusalem in 1970 because of conflicts in the region. He returned to the University of Sydney as a visiting professor. In 1973, he became a full professor of Near Eastern Archaeology. He held this important position until he retired in 1990.

During his time as a professor in Sydney, John continued to lead Australian archaeological digs:

• At Teleilat Ghassul (1975–1977).
• At Pella (starting in 1978).

He also helped create the Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation at the University of Sydney in 1986. This foundation helps support archaeological research in the Middle East.

Retirement and Awards

After he retired in 1990, John Hennessy was given the title of Emeritus Professor of Archaeology. This means he was still recognized as a highly respected professor. In 1993, his old university, the University of Sydney, gave him an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. This was a special award to honor his great achievements.