The Archaeology of Race - The Eugenic Ideas of Francis Galton and Flinders Petrie

How much was archaeology founded on prejudice? The Archaeology of Race explores the application of racial theory to interpret the past in Britain during the late Victorian and Edwardian period. It investigates how material culture from ancient Egypt and Greece was used to validate the construction of racial hierarchies. Specifically focusing on Francis Galton''s ideas around inheritance and race, it explores how the Egyptologist Flinders Petrie applied these in his work in Egypt and in his political beliefs. It examines the professional networks formed by societies, such as the Anthropological Institute, and their widespread use of eugenic ideas in analysing society. Archaeology of Race draws on archives and objects from the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology and the Galton collection at UCL. These collections are used to explore anti-Semitism, skull collecting, New Race theory and physiognomy. These collections give insight into the relationship between Galton and Petrie and place their ideas in historical context.>

About the author

Debbie Challis has worked in London's major museums since 1998, most recently as a learning officer at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology. She lectures at the National Portrait Gallery and has researched and written for the BBC's Online Archive of television and radio programmes. She works freelance as a writer and lecturer, co-ordinating strategy and programmes in arts education.

Product details

• Authors: Debbie Challis, Challis Debbie
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 14.03.2013
• EAN: 9781780934204
• ISBN: 978-1-78093-420-4
• No. of pages: 288
• Series: Criminal Practice Series
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Social sciences, law, business > Ethnology > Ethnology; Ethnic Studies, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Archaeology, Archaeological science, methodology & techniques, Archaeological science, methodology and techniques, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Cultural & Ethnic Studies / General