Jack Golson facts for kids
Jack Golson (born September 13, 1926 – died September 2, 2023) was a famous archaeologist. He was born in Britain but became Australian. He spent many years studying ancient cultures in places like Melanesia, Polynesia, and Micronesia. These are large groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean.
A Life of Discovery
Jack Golson was born in Rochdale, England, on September 13, 1926. He went to Cambridge University to study history and archaeology.
In 1954, he started teaching archaeology at Auckland University in New Zealand. This is where he began to study the ancient history of the Pacific Islands. Golson also helped make archaeology better in New Zealand. He even helped start the New Zealand Archaeological Association.
Exploring the Pacific
In 1957, Jack Golson did the first careful study of old ruins on Savai'i island in Samoa. This was a big step in understanding the past of these islands.
In 1961, he became a special researcher at the Australian National University. There, he did important work in Australia and Papua New Guinea. He also led the World Archaeological Congress from 1990 to 1994. This is a big meeting for archaeologists from all over the world.
Later Years and Awards
Jack Golson retired in 1991 after working for 30 years at the Australian National University. Even after retiring, he kept working on projects, especially in Papua New Guinea.
In 1997, he received a special award called the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This was for his great work in teaching and research about ancient history in Asia and the Pacific. In 2001, he was given the Centenary Medal.
In 2002, he became a lifetime member of the Australian Archaeological Association. In 2009, he and Clare Golson won the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Archaeological Congress.
Jack Golson passed away on September 2, 2023, when he was 96 years old.
See also
- Archaeology in Samoa
