The excavations at the Minoan palace of Knossos on Crete, which Arthur Evans initiated in 1900, transformed modern understanding of Aegean Bronze Age civilizations. Using private wealth generated by his family's paper mill business, Evans unearthed structures and artifacts that allowed him to distinguish the Minoan civilization from Mycenaean Greece and identify early Cretan scripts.
Early Influences and Education
Born in 1851 at Nash Mills, Arthur Evans was the eldest child of John Evans and Harriet Ann Dickinson. His father, a paper mill partner and antiquarian, fostered early exposure to archaeology, numismatics, and geology. Evans attended Harrow School, where he co-edited The Harrovian and began using a cane named Prodger to compensate for poor long-distance vision. He matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford, in 1870 to study Modern History. His formative years included extensive European travel, where he documented anthropological findings and sought prehistoric artifacts in gravel quarries across France and the Carpathians.
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Evans turned his attention to Crete after learning of previous, aborted excavations led by Minos Kalokairinos. He purchased the land surrounding the palace site to conduct his own investigations. His work resulted in the identification of Linear A and Linear B scripts, alongside a previously unknown pictographic writing system. These discoveries were critical in establishing the chronology and cultural distinctiveness of the Minoan civilization, which had previously been obscured by its relationship to later Mycenaean influence.
Academic and Professional Contributions
Throughout his career, Evans operated at the intersection of anthropology, archaeology, and prehistory. He served as the President of the Royal Numismatic Society from 1914 to 1919 and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1901. His professional output was supported by numerous international academic affiliations, including memberships in the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, and the German Archaeological Institute. He remained active in research until his death in 1941 at Youlbury House.
Fast facts
- Born: 1851, Nash Mills
- Died: 1941, Youlbury House
- Education: Harrow School and Brasenose College
- Major Excavation: Knossos, Crete
- Fellow of the Royal Society: 1901
- Copley Medal: 1936
- President of the Royal Numismatic Society: 1914-1919
- Knight Bachelor: 1911
Questions readers ask
What scripts did Arthur Evans discover?
He was the first to define the Cretan scripts known as Linear A and Linear B, as well as an earlier pictographic writing system.
How was the Knossos excavation funded?
Evans utilized private funding, largely derived from the profits of his family's paper mill business, to purchase the palace land and conduct excavations.
Achievements
- Copley Medal — 1936
- Fellow of the Royal Society — 1901
- Educated at Brasenose College and Harrow School
- Fields of research: archaeology
