Georg F.L. Sarauw
Encyclopedia
Georg Frederik Ludvig Sarauw (November 12, 1862–1928) was a Danish
-Swedish botanist
and archaeologist
. He discovered the Maglemosian culture
and was among the first to study fossil pollen
.
at the University of Copenhagen
under professor Japetus Steenstrup
. He specialized in botany
and forestry
.
at the National Museum of Denmark
.
He led the excavation of an epipaleolithic
settlement in Maglemose (literally big bog) near Gørlev
on Zealand, for which the Maglemosian culture
was named. The thorough investigation moved the first prehistoric
finds in Northern Europe 2,500 years back in time with respect to the Ertebølle culture
, then thought to be the oldest stratum. The place was brought to the attention of the National Museum
by the local teacher M. J. Mathiassen in Mullerup. Sarauw's excavations were followed up in 1915 when new finds were unearthed. This time, schoolmaster Mathiassen's son, Therkel Mathiassen
, then a student of archaeology
, and Lauge Koch
, then student of geology
and son of the parish vicar in nearby Ubberup, were appointed leaders.
at Uppsala University
and soon became a proliferous researcher and writer. This apparently led to conflict with the director of the National Museum of Denmark
, Sophus Müller
. With help from the director of the Swedish National Heritage Board, Oscar Montelius
, Sarauw was employed at the newly founded archaeological division at the Museum of Gothenburg
, where he remained for the rest of his career.
Danes
Danish people or Danes are the nation and ethnic group that is native to Denmark, and who speak Danish.The first mention of Danes within the Danish territory is on the Jelling Rune Stone which mentions how Harald Bluetooth converted the Danes to Christianity in the 10th century...
-Swedish botanist
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and archaeologist
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
. He discovered the Maglemosian culture
Maglemosian culture
Maglemosian is the name given to a culture of the early Mesolithic period in Northern Europe. In Scandinavia, the culture is succeeded by the Kongemose culture....
and was among the first to study fossil pollen
Pollen
Pollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes . Pollen grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement from the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the...
.
Early life
He was born to a forest manager at Pedersværft on Zealand. He studied natural historyNatural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
under professor Japetus Steenstrup
Japetus Steenstrup
Johannes Japetus Smith Steenstrup was a Danish zoologist, biologist, and professor.He was a professor of zoology at the University of Copenhagen...
. He specialized in botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
.
Maglemose
From 1894, he was associated with the department of prehistoryPrehistory
Prehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
at the National Museum of Denmark
National Museum of Denmark
The National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen is Denmark’s largest museum of cultural history, comprising the histories of Danish and foreign cultures, alike. The museum's main domicile is located a short distance from Strøget at the center of Copenhagen. It contains exhibits from around the world,...
.
He led the excavation of an epipaleolithic
Epipaleolithic
The Epipaleolithic Age was a period in the development of human technology marked by more advanced stone blades and other tools than the earlier Paleolithic age, although still before the development of agriculture in the Neolithic age...
settlement in Maglemose (literally big bog) near Gørlev
Gørlev
Gørlev is a town with a population of 2,482 on the west coast of the island of Zealand in Denmark, belonging to Kalundborg Municipality in Region Sjælland...
on Zealand, for which the Maglemosian culture
Maglemosian culture
Maglemosian is the name given to a culture of the early Mesolithic period in Northern Europe. In Scandinavia, the culture is succeeded by the Kongemose culture....
was named. The thorough investigation moved the first prehistoric
Prehistory
Prehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
finds in Northern Europe 2,500 years back in time with respect to the Ertebølle culture
Ertebølle culture
The Ertebølle culture is the name of a hunter-gatherer and fisher, pottery-making culture dating to the end of the Mesolithic period. The culture was concentrated in Southern Scandinavia, but genetically linked to strongly related cultures in Northern Germany and the Northern Netherlands...
, then thought to be the oldest stratum. The place was brought to the attention of the National Museum
National Museum of Denmark
The National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen is Denmark’s largest museum of cultural history, comprising the histories of Danish and foreign cultures, alike. The museum's main domicile is located a short distance from Strøget at the center of Copenhagen. It contains exhibits from around the world,...
by the local teacher M. J. Mathiassen in Mullerup. Sarauw's excavations were followed up in 1915 when new finds were unearthed. This time, schoolmaster Mathiassen's son, Therkel Mathiassen
Therkel Mathiassen
Therkel Mathiassen was an archaeologist, anthropologist, cartographer, and ethnographer notable for his scientific study of the Arctic....
, then a student of archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
, and Lauge Koch
Lauge Koch
Lauge Koch was a Danish geologist and Arctic explorer.He was the renowned leader of 24 Danish government expeditions to Greenland, and the central character in the Lauge Koch Controversy, an international and intra-national conflict...
, then student of geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and son of the parish vicar in nearby Ubberup, were appointed leaders.
Swedish career
Sarauw then studied archaeologyArchaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
at Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
and soon became a proliferous researcher and writer. This apparently led to conflict with the director of the National Museum of Denmark
National Museum of Denmark
The National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen is Denmark’s largest museum of cultural history, comprising the histories of Danish and foreign cultures, alike. The museum's main domicile is located a short distance from Strøget at the center of Copenhagen. It contains exhibits from around the world,...
, Sophus Müller
Sophus Müller
Sophus Otto Müller was a Danish paleontologist.He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, the son of C. Louis Müller. Sophus studied classical philology at Copenhagen University, graduating with a masters in 1871. He became a teacher up until 1876, while assisting at the Museum of Northern Antiquities...
. With help from the director of the Swedish National Heritage Board, Oscar Montelius
Oscar Montelius
Oscar Montelius was a Swedish archaeologist who refined the concept of seriation, a relative chronological dating method...
, Sarauw was employed at the newly founded archaeological division at the Museum of Gothenburg
City Museum of Gothenburg
The City Museum of Gothenburg is located in an 18th century house originally built for the Swedish East India Company in the city centre of Gothenburg, Sweden. The museum itself was created in 1861 with the British Victoria and Albert Museum as model. The City Museum is a Cultural History museum...
, where he remained for the rest of his career.
Selected bibliography
- Sarauw, G.F.L. (1893) Rodsymbiose og Mykorrhizer - særligt hos Skovtræerne [Root symbiosis and mycorrhizas - in particular with trees]. Botanisk TidsskriftBotanisk TidsskriftBotanisk Tidsskrift was a Danish mixed scientific and amateur journal concerning botany, issued in Copenhagen by the Danish Botanical Society...
18 (3-4): 127-259. - Sarauw, G.F.L. (1898) Lyngheden i Oldtiden. Iagttagelser fra Gravhøje [Ancient heathlands - observations from burial mounds]. Aarbøger for nordisk Oldkyndighed og Historie, 1898: 69-124.
- Sarauw, G.F.L. (1903) En Stenaldersboplads i Maglemose ved Mullerup - sammenholdt med beslægtede fund [A Stone Age settlement in Maglemose near Mullerup - compared with related finds]. Résumé: Études sur le premier âge de la pierre du Nord de l'Europe. Aarbøger for nordisk Oldkyndighed og Historie 1903. A GermanGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
translation appeared in Prähistorische Zeitschrift in 1911. Google Books - Sarauw, G.F.L. & Johan Alin (1923) Götaälvsområdets fornminnen [Antiquities from the Göta Älv area]. Skrifter utgivna till Göteborgs stads trehundraårsjubileum genom jubileumsutställningens publikationskommitté, vol. 3. 370 pp.