Jacques de Morgan surveyed the Kinta Valley in 1884 to produce the first geological and mining map of the district, securing a tin concession near Gopeng. His professional trajectory spanned multiple continents, blending civil engineering with intensive archaeological fieldwork that resulted in the discovery of significant historical artifacts across Egypt, Iran, and the Caucasus.
Professional Education and Early Fieldwork
Born in 1857 in Huisseau-sur-Cosson, France, de Morgan attended Mines ParisTech to train as an engineer. His early career benefited from mentorship by Gabriel de Mortillet and his father, Eugène de Morgan, who provided early exposure to the excavation of Neolithic sites near Rouen. By 1879, he began publishing research notable for its precision, setting a standard for his future documentary drawings.
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During his tenure in the British protectorate of Perak, Malaya, de Morgan documented tin mines at Lahat, Papan, Pusing, and Gopeng. Following his work in Malaya, he traveled to Russian Armenia to manage a copper mine at Akhtala. Between 1887 and 1889, he conducted excavations of 576 graves near the Tiflis-Alexandropol railway, later publishing his findings in the two-volume Mission scientifique au Caucase.
Antiquities and Exploration in Egypt and Iran
Serving as the Director of Antiquities for the Egyptian government from 1892 to 1897, de Morgan managed excavations in Memphis and Dahshur. He later secured a French monopoly on archaeological research in Persia, where he excavated the Citadel at Susa. His Iranian work included extensive scientific documentation, resulting in the publication of Mission scientifique en Perse, which covered geological, archaeological, and linguistic studies. In 1892, he identified petroleum seepages in Iran that he assessed as commercially viable.
Fast facts
- Born: 1857, Huisseau-sur-Cosson
- Died: 1924, Marseille
- Education: Mines ParisTech
- Field of Work: Archaeology
- Commander of the Legion of Honour: 1906
- Officer of the Legion of Honour: 1895
- Knight of the Legion of Honour: 1892
- Burial site: Saint Pierre Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was Jacques de Morgan's primary role in Egypt?
He served as the Director of Antiquities from 1892 to 1897, where he excavated sites in Memphis and Dahshur.
Did de Morgan have a background in mining?
Yes, he was a trained civil and mining engineer who mapped the Kinta Valley in Malaya and managed a copper mine in Armenia.
Achievements
- Commander of the Legion of Honour — 1906
- Knight of the Legion of Honour — 1892
- Officer of the Legion of Honour — 1895
- Affiliated with Veradzenunt, French Ministry of education and Supreme Council of Antiquities
- Educated at Mines ParisTech
- Worked as anthropologist, archaeologist and engineer
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