Einar Gjerstad
Einar Nilson Gjerstad (30 October 1897 – 8 January 1988) was a Swedish archaeologist. He was most noted for his research of the ancient Mediterranean, particularly known for his work on Cyprus,[1] as well as his studies of early Rome.[2] [3]
Einar Nilson Gjerstad | |
---|---|
Born | Örebro, Sweden | 30 October 1897
Died | 8 January 1988 90) Lund, Sweden | (aged
Nationality | Swedish |
Alma mater | Uppsala University |
Known for | Study of Cypriot Bichrome ware; Early Rome |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Classical archaeology |
Institutions | The Swedish Institute at Rome; Lund University |
Doctoral advisor | Axel Persson |
Biography
Gjerstad studied at Uppsala University, where he earned a bachelor's degree. 1920, fil.mag. 1921, fil.lic. 1923, and received his doctorate in 1926. In 1922 he was an assistant at excavations in Asine under Axel W. Persson (1888–1951), professor of classical archaeology and ancient history at Uppsala University.[4]
Gjerstad had the opportunity to go to Cyprus and conduct investigations 1923–1924. From 1927 until 1931 Gjerstad led the Swedish Cyprus Expedition. The expedition was intended to make a complete study of the ancient culture of Cyprus . Gjerstad served as the expedition's leader with overall responsibility, while Erik Sjöqvist and Alfred Westholm led most of the excavations.[5]
From 1935 until 1940, Gjerstad served as director the Swedish Institute at Rome. When Gjerstad left Rome in 1940, he assumed the position of Professor of Classical Archaeology and Ancient History at Lund University.[6] He was a pioneer in the study of Cypriot Bichrome ware.[7]
Legacy
A street has been named after him in Larnaca, Cyprus. (It is adjacent to the Bamboula archaeological site of Kition.)
Publications
- 1926 Studies on Prehistoric Cyprus
- 1934 The Swedish Cyprus Expedition: Finds and Results of the Excavation in Cyprus 1927-1931. Vol. I
- 1935 The Swedish Cyprus Expedition: Finds and Results of the Excavation in Cyprus 1927-1931. Vol. II
- 1937 The Swedish Cyprus Expedition: Finds and Results of the Excavation in Cyprus 1927-1931. Vol. III
- 1953 Early Rome Vol. I: Stratigraphical researches in the Forum Romanum and along the Sacra Via
- 1956 Early Rome Vol. II: The tombs
- 1960 Early Rome Vol. III: Fortifications, domestic architecture, sanctuaries, stratigraphic excavations
- 1962 Legends and Facts of Early Roman History
- 1966 Early Rome Vol. IV: Synthesis of archaeological evidence
- 1973 Early Rome Vol. V: The written sources
- 1973 Early Rome Vol. VI: Historical survey
- 1980 Ages and Days in Cyprus, Paul Åström, Göteborg.
- Kıbrıs Macerası – The Cyprus Adventure – Περιπετεια στην Κυπρο (1927 - 1931), Galeri Kültür Kitabevi, Lefkoşa 2013 Published in three languages: Turkish, English and Greek. Marie-Louise Winbladh, Galeri Kültür Kitabevi, Lefkoşa, Cyprus 2013
- Adventuring with Cyprus. A Chronicle of the Swedish Cyprus Expedition 1927 – 1931. Marie-Louise Winbladh 2016
- Adventures of an archaeologist. Memoirs of a museum curator, Marie-Louise Winbladh, AKAKIA Publications, London 2020
References
- Einar Gjerstad (Erik Paul Einar Nison.) (1926). Studies on Prehistoric Cyprus. Inaug. Diss. by Einar Gjerstad. Uppsala universitets årsskrift, 1926.
- Einar Gjerstad (1966). Early Rome: Synthesis of archaeological evidence. 2 pts. C. W. K. Gleerup.
- "Gjerstad, Einar". Brill. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- "Axel W Persson". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- "Axel W Persson". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- http://socialarchive.iath.virginia.edu/xtf/view?docId=gjerstad-einar-b-1897-cr.xml
- Svenska Cypernexpeditionen, 1927-1931; Einar Gjerstad; John Lindros; Erik Sjöqvist; Alfred Westholm (1972). The Swedish Cyprus expedition: finds and results of the excavations in Cyprus, 1927-1931 ... The Swedish Cyprus Expedition.
Other Sources
- Einar Gjerstad research papers, 1806-1984, Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles. Accession No. 900228. The archive includes research notes, photographs, drawings, typescripts and publication production materials for Gjerstad's extensive studies of the archaeology of Cyprus and early Rome.
- "Einar Gjerstad," in A Historical Dictionary of Classical Archaeology, ed. Nancy T. de Grummond (Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut 1996).