Jacques de Morgan facts for kids
Jean-Jacques de Morgan (born June 3, 1857, died June 14, 1924) was a famous French engineer, geologist, and archaeologist. He was in charge of ancient artifacts in Egypt during the 1800s. He dug up sites in Memphis and Dashur, drawing many Egyptian pyramids. He also worked at important places like Stonehenge and Persepolis.
De Morgan also traveled to Russian Armenia. There, he managed a copper mine in a town called Akhtala. He believed the Caucasus region was very important for understanding where metals first came from. He thought it held clues to ancient civilizations that helped shape our world. Between 1887 and 1889, he found 576 old graves near Alaverdi and Akhtala.
Early Life and Discoveries
Jean-Jacques de Morgan's father, Eugène, was also an engineer who studied minerals. His father was interested in entomology (the study of insects) and prehistory (the time before written records). He taught his sons, Henry and Jacques, about fieldwork. They helped him dig at the Campigny faults near Rouen, which gave its name to an early period of the European Neolithic age.
Through his father, Jacques met Gabriel de Mortillet. Mortillet worked at the museum of national antiquities in Saint-Germain. He taught de Morgan how to properly list and organize objects found during digs. De Morgan wanted to be a professional geologist, just like his father. His travels from a young age helped him study and explore. By 1879, he started publishing his research. His drawings were known for being very detailed and accurate.
Adventures in Malaya
As a young man, de Morgan went to Perak, which was a new British protectorate (a country protected and partly controlled by another) in Malaya. In 1884, he was asked by Hugh Low, a British official, to create the first map of the Kinta district. This map showed the geology and mining areas. In return, de Morgan received permission to mine for tin at Kliang Lallang.
De Morgan studied the tin mines around Lahat, Papan, Pusing, and Gopeng. A special printed copy of his map was included in the Perak annual report of 1884. This map also showed the hills and rivers of the Kinta Valley. While in Kinta, de Morgan was helped by a Mandailing prospector named Kulop Riau. They used Orang Asli guides and porters. De Morgan lived with the Orang Asli people and wrote down his observations about their culture. He also drew pictures in his travel journal.
De Morgan also met Raja Bilah, a leader of the Mandailing people in Papan. He saw mines run by Chinese, Mandailing, and European people. He noted that Raja Bilah owned the most important mine. When de Morgan returned to France, he started a tin-mining company. However, he later lost his financial share when his company joined with another in 1886. This new company, called Société des Etains de Kinta (SEK), became the longest-running mine in Malaysia.
Exploring Ancient Persia
De Morgan traveled to Susiana to trace the paths of ancient Assyrian armies in Elam. He arrived in Susa, which used to be the capital of Elam. Another expedition had explored Susa six years earlier. As he looked at the ruins outside the village of Shush, he became curious about a tall mound called "the Citadel". At the bottom of this mound, he found old stone tools and pottery pieces.
These finds made him want to start digging at the site again. In Tehran, he told the French minister, René de Balloy, about his plans. The minister wanted France to have the only right to do archaeological research in Persia. It took some time, but de Morgan's efforts eventually succeeded. In 1892, de Morgan also noticed oil seeps in Iran. He believed these could be used for business.
During this time, he published his work called Mission scientifique en Perse. This included four books on geology and two on archaeology, describing tombs and other monuments. He also wrote about Kurdish dialects and other languages of northern Persia. One book was about Mandaean texts, and two were about geography. One of his most important finds was the famous Victory Stele of Naram-Sin. This ancient stone monument had been brought to Susa as war treasure by the Elamite king Shutruk-Nakhunte.
See also
In Spanish: Jacques de Morgan para niños
