Manfred Korfmann
Encyclopedia
Manfred Osman Korfmann was a German
archaeologist
.
(West Bank
, then in Jordan
) he developed a great interest in archaeology. Thereupon he decided to pursue studies, from 1962 to 1970, on prehistory, ancient history and archaeology at the University of Frankfurt/Main and the American University of Beirut
. He received his doctorate in 1970 at Frankfurt/Main. From 1971-72 he was a scientific researcher at the University of Frankfurt/Main with the project of mapping Africa
funded by the German federal government. Among other things he worked from 1971-1978 as a scientific adviser to the German Archaeological Institute in Istanbul
, leading excavations of a small Bronze-age fortress at Demircihuyuk in north-west Turkey
. From 1978 to 1982 he was an academic assistant at the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Berlin, where in 1980 he obtained his Habilitation
, following which he undertook some lecturing work at the University of Frankfurt/Main. In 1982 he received a professorship of prehistoric and ancient archaeology at the University of Tübingen, where he became Director of the Institute for Prehistory.
He continued his research in Turkey, excavating from 1982-87 at Besik Bay, a few kilometres from the famous site of Hisarlik
(the supposed location of Homer
's Troy
). In 1988 the Turkish government gave him an exclusive excavation license for Troy itself (which for academic purposes is internationally known as Troia, at his suggestion). Over many years, his team excavated large sections of the lower part of Troy, beneath the later Roman-era ruins. During the excavation campaign and under the direction of Korfmann, altogether 13,240 square meters of land were excavated by 370 scientists. Since Schliemann's work of Troy there has been much dispute over its cultural and historical interpretation. While many ancient historians doubt the significance of the lower part of the settlement, Korfmann presented his argument that the bronze-age city at Hisarlik was quite large, and had played a key role in trade around the Dardanelles
. Also due to his initiative, in 2001 a major Troy exhibition was displayed in Stuttgart
, "Troy - dream and reality". About 800,000 visitors visited this exhibition, but the way it presented the excavation findings, initially without proper labelling of reconstructions which were purely speculative, turned the scientific debate into a bitter controversy. In February 2002 in Tübingen
, Korfmann presented the arguments for his conclusions over the decades of past scientific works in Troy. The main point of the controversy was the real size and interpretation of the bronze-age city; further excavation in August 2003 supported Korfmann's theory, and he announced that "Troy was much larger than so far accepted, which I can prove by my excavations".
Owing to Korfmann the interest in Troy rose enormously, for his excavations again rekindled enthusiasm for the myths about Troy. In 1996 he helped to establish a national park around the Troy
site and two years later UNESCO
declared this site as World Cultural Heritage; many tourists come to see the excavation site. Professor Korfmann had accepted in 2004 the Turkish
nationality given to him by the government of Turkey for his contribution to that country; he also took Osman as his middle name, acknowledging years of being known by the nickname of "Osman Bey". Apart from excavations in Troy, he also turned to excavation in other places around the Black Sea
, notably Didigora and Udabno in Georgia
.
Manfred Korfmann died of lung cancer on August 11, 2005 at the age of 63 in his home in Ofterdingen
near Tübingen
. He hoped that the excavations would continue, and that the Turkish government would build a world-class museum near the site. He lives on through his wife, son and daughter.
Articles
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
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...
.
Biography
As a school assistant in Beit Jala/BethlehemBethlehem
Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank of the Jordan River, near Israel and approximately south of Jerusalem, with a population of about 30,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate of the Palestinian National Authority and a hub of Palestinian culture and tourism...
(West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
, then in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
) he developed a great interest in archaeology. Thereupon he decided to pursue studies, from 1962 to 1970, on prehistory, ancient history and archaeology at the University of Frankfurt/Main and the American University of Beirut
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
. He received his doctorate in 1970 at Frankfurt/Main. From 1971-72 he was a scientific researcher at the University of Frankfurt/Main with the project of mapping Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
funded by the German federal government. Among other things he worked from 1971-1978 as a scientific adviser to the German Archaeological Institute in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, leading excavations of a small Bronze-age fortress at Demircihuyuk in north-west Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. From 1978 to 1982 he was an academic assistant at the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Berlin, where in 1980 he obtained his Habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
, following which he undertook some lecturing work at the University of Frankfurt/Main. In 1982 he received a professorship of prehistoric and ancient archaeology at the University of Tübingen, where he became Director of the Institute for Prehistory.
He continued his research in Turkey, excavating from 1982-87 at Besik Bay, a few kilometres from the famous site of Hisarlik
Hisarlik
Hisarlik , often spelled Hissarlik, is the modern name for the site of ancient Troy, also known as Ilion, and is located in what is now Turkey...
(the supposed location of Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
's Troy
Troy
Troy was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northwest Anatolia in what is now Turkey, southeast of the Dardanelles and beside Mount Ida...
). In 1988 the Turkish government gave him an exclusive excavation license for Troy itself (which for academic purposes is internationally known as Troia, at his suggestion). Over many years, his team excavated large sections of the lower part of Troy, beneath the later Roman-era ruins. During the excavation campaign and under the direction of Korfmann, altogether 13,240 square meters of land were excavated by 370 scientists. Since Schliemann's work of Troy there has been much dispute over its cultural and historical interpretation. While many ancient historians doubt the significance of the lower part of the settlement, Korfmann presented his argument that the bronze-age city at Hisarlik was quite large, and had played a key role in trade around the Dardanelles
Dardanelles
The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...
. Also due to his initiative, in 2001 a major Troy exhibition was displayed in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, "Troy - dream and reality". About 800,000 visitors visited this exhibition, but the way it presented the excavation findings, initially without proper labelling of reconstructions which were purely speculative, turned the scientific debate into a bitter controversy. In February 2002 in Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
, Korfmann presented the arguments for his conclusions over the decades of past scientific works in Troy. The main point of the controversy was the real size and interpretation of the bronze-age city; further excavation in August 2003 supported Korfmann's theory, and he announced that "Troy was much larger than so far accepted, which I can prove by my excavations".
Owing to Korfmann the interest in Troy rose enormously, for his excavations again rekindled enthusiasm for the myths about Troy. In 1996 he helped to establish a national park around the Troy
Troy
Troy was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northwest Anatolia in what is now Turkey, southeast of the Dardanelles and beside Mount Ida...
site and two years later UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
declared this site as World Cultural Heritage; many tourists come to see the excavation site. Professor Korfmann had accepted in 2004 the Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
nationality given to him by the government of Turkey for his contribution to that country; he also took Osman as his middle name, acknowledging years of being known by the nickname of "Osman Bey". Apart from excavations in Troy, he also turned to excavation in other places around the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
, notably Didigora and Udabno in Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
.
Manfred Korfmann died of lung cancer on August 11, 2005 at the age of 63 in his home in Ofterdingen
Ofterdingen
Ofterdingen is a municipality in the district of Tübingen in Baden-Württemberg in Germany....
near Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
. He hoped that the excavations would continue, and that the Turkish government would build a world-class museum near the site. He lives on through his wife, son and daughter.
External links
- University webpage of Korfmann
- Project Troia - University website of Troy project under the direction of Prof. Manfred Korfmann
- UNESCO-World Heritage
- The Truth of Troy - transcript of BBC
- www.troia.de - main website for the Troia-exhibition in 2001/2002
Articles
- Was there a Trojan War?, "The Archaeology Journal", Vol. 57, No. 3, May/June 2004 by Korfmann
- "Troy lost its best defender" "Turkish Daily News" tribute (in English)
- "The Boss" is no longer alive, Stuttgarter Zeitung, 12.08.2005
- Manfred Korfmann is dead, German weekly magazine "Der Spiegel"
- Faith in Homer: Troy excavator Manfred Korfmann died, German newspaper "Die Welt"
- Troja researcher Manfred Korfmann died, German newspaper "Süddeutsche Zeitung"
- Obituary, SWRSüdwestrundfunkThe Südwestrundfunk is a public broadcasting company for the southwest of Germany, specifically the states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. The company has main offices in three cities: Stuttgart, Baden-Baden and Mainz, with the director's office being in Stuttgart. It is an...
, 11.08.2005 with Photos (German) - Troia website of "Schwäbisches Tagblatt", February 15th 2002; articles appear in the local newspaper in Tübingen with comments by Kolb and Korfmann
- New York Times News Service