Robert John Braidwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert John Braidwood
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| Born | June 29, 1907 |
| Died | January 15, 2003 (aged 95) |
| Education |
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| Spouse(s) | Linda Braidwood |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Chicago |
| Thesis | The comparative archaeology of early Syria: from the time of the earliest known village cultures through the Akkadian period. (1943) |
| Doctoral advisor | James Henry Breasted |
| Doctoral students | Robert McCormick Adams Jr. Patty Jo Watson |
| Other notable students |
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Robert John Braidwood (born July 29, 1907, died January 15, 2003) was an important American archaeologist and anthropologist. He helped create modern scientific archaeology. He was also a leader in studying the ancient history of the Near East.
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Life of Robert John Braidwood
Robert John Braidwood was born in Detroit, Michigan, on July 29, 1907. He studied at the University of Michigan. In 1933, he earned a master's degree in architecture. Soon after, he joined an important trip to the Amuq Plain with the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute. There, he worked with another archaeologist, James Henry Breasted. During this time, he married Linda Braidwood, who was also a Michigan graduate. Linda became his partner in all his archaeological work.
During World War II, Braidwood helped the United States Army Air Corps. He managed a program that created weather maps. In 1943, he earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. He then became a professor there. He taught at the Oriental Institute and in the Department of Anthropology until he retired.
Some people think that the character Abner Ravenwood from the Indiana Jones movies was inspired by Braidwood. Ravenwood was a famous archaeologist from the University of Chicago. He was known for working in exciting places. Braidwood's colleague, James Henry Breasted, is also thought to be a possible inspiration for Indiana Jones himself.
Robert John Braidwood passed away on January 15, 2003, in Chicago. His wife, Linda, also died on the same day.
Robert John Braidwood: An Archaeology Pioneer
Discovering Ancient Worlds
The trip to the Amuq Plain in Turkey was very important. It was one of the first truly scientific archaeological studies. Braidwood and his team carefully mapped sites and kept detailed records. This helped them accurately date the ancient objects they found.
New Ways to Date the Past
In 1947, Braidwood learned about carbon dating from Willard Libby. This new method helped him date ancient items much more accurately. That same year, Braidwood started the Jarmo Project in Iraq. This project was special because it aimed to find out how people first started growing food. It also looked at how this changed their environment. For the first time, archaeologists, biologists, and geologists worked together. This team effort was so new that it received a grant from the National Science Foundation in 1954. Later, due to problems in Iraq, Braidwood moved his work. He started similar projects in Iran and Turkey.
From Hunting to Farming
Braidwood also worked with scientists from Istanbul University at a site called Çayönü in southern Turkey. Their discoveries showed how people changed their way of life. Between 8,000 and 12,000 years ago, people in this area stopped being hunter-gatherers. Instead, they began to farm and grow their own food. This was a huge step in human history.
Sharing Knowledge
Braidwood wrote a popular book called "Prehistoric Men." The Field Museum of Natural History published this book in 1967. It helped many people learn about ancient times.
Awards and Recognition
Braidwood received many honors for his important work. He became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1963. He also joined the National Academy of Sciences in 1964. In 1966, he became part of the American Philosophical Society. The Archaeological Institute of America gave him their Gold Medal Award in 1971. This award recognized his outstanding achievements in archaeology.
See also
In Spanish: Robert John Braidwood para niños
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