Vere Gordon Childe, an Australian historian, linguist, and archaeologist, made significant contributions to the understanding of the relationship between Europe and the Middle East during the 2nd and 3rd millennia BC. Born in Sydney, Australia, Gordon grew up with five half-siblings from his father’s previous marriage. After excelling in his studies at the University of Sydney, he received a prestigious scholarship to Queen’s College, Oxford University. During his time at Oxford, he became involved in the socialist movement and was a prominent member of the left-wing reformist Oxford University Fabian Society. Despite facing challenges due to his political affiliations, Gordon eventually became the first Abercromby professor of prehistoric archaeology at the University of Edinburgh.
Quick Facts
- Australian Celebrities Born In April
- Also Known As: Vere Gordon Childe
- Died At Age: 65
- Philologists
- Archaeologists
- Died on: October 19, 1957
- Place of death: Blackheath, Australia
- Notable Alumni: The Queen’s College, Oxford
- Cause of Death: Suicide
- City: Sydney, Australia
- More Facts
- Education: University Of Sydney, The Queen’s College, Oxford
Childhood & Early Life
V. Gordon Childe was born on April 14, 1892 in Sydney, New South Wales. He was the only surviving child of the Reverend Stephen Henry and Harriet Eliza Childe. Stephen was a second-generation Anglican priest and his first wife was Mary Ellen Latchford. The family moved to Australia in 1878 where Mary died. Stephen then married Harriet in 1886 and the five children from his previous marriage became Gordon’s half-siblings.
Owing to his poor health as a child, Gordon received his primary schooling at home. He later matriculated from the Sydney Church Of England Grammar School in 1910. Although he was a good student, he was bullied because of his strange appearance and un-athletic physique.
Gordon’s mother passed away in 1910 and his father married Monica Gardiner. The death of Gordon’s mother and the disagreements on subjects of religion and politics with his father left him lonely.
He graduated from the University of Sydney in 1914 with a B.A. and won several awards including the University Medal, Professor Francis Anderson’s prize for philosophy, and the (Sir) Daniel Cooper graduate scholarship. With the £200 Cooper scholarship, Gordon went to study at Queen’s College, Oxford University. He was awarded a B.Litt. in 1916 for research on Indo-European archaeology and obtained first-class honors in literae humaniores (humane letters) the following year.
Career
V. Gordon Childe returned to Australia in 1917 and became the Senior Resident Tutor at St. Andrew’s College. However, he was forced to resign when he participated and spoke in the Third Inter-State Peace Conference. Despite his good academic record, he faced difficulties finding work due to his political affiliations.
In 1918, Gordon began teaching Latin at the Maryborough Grammar School in Queensland but resigned shortly after due to harassment. He then became the private secretary and speech writer to politician John Storey in 1919. Storey later became the state premier of New South Wales. However, after Storey’s death, Gordon’s employment was terminated in 1922.
Gordon stayed in London and spent much of his time studying at the British Museum and the Royal Anthropological Institute library. He became known as an excellent pre-historian and published several books in the 1920s. In 1927, he became the first Abercromby professor of prehistoric archeology at the University of Edinburgh.
From 1928 to 1930, Gordon supervised the excavation of the Skara Brae Stone Village in Scotland and published his findings in the book ‘Skara Brae’. He also conducted several other excavations in the following years.
In 1946, he was elected as the Director and Professor of European Prehistory at the Institute of Archaeology in London. He retired from this position in 1956 and donated most of his library and estate to the institution.
Major Works
V. Gordon Childe is considered a trailblazer in the field of prehistory. He studied the structures of primitive societies and linked them with relevant studies in anthropology, geology, biology, zoology, and paleontology. He became an early proponent of culture-historical archaeology and Marxist archaeology.
Awards & Achievements
In 1936, Gordon was awarded an honorary doctorate of literature by Harvard and a doctorate of science by Pennsylvania State University. He was also appointed as a fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute, the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and the British Academy. He received the Gold Medal of the Society of Antiquaries for his services to archaeology in 1956.
Personal Life & Legacy
On October 19, 1957, V. Gordon Childe fell to his death from the Govett’s Leap in Blackheath in the Blue Mountains. His death was ruled as accidental, but a letter he sent to a friend and the finding of his belongings at the site suggest a pre-planned suicide.