Philip Rahtz
Encyclopedia
Philip Arthur Rahtz was a British
archaeologist
.
Rahtz was born in Bristol
. After leaving Bristol Grammar School
, he became an accountant before serving with the Royal Air Force
during the Second World War. During war service, Rahtz became friends with the archaeologist Ernest Greenfield
(excavator of Great Witcombe Roman Villa
, Gloucestershire
). This friendship sparked a personal interest in archaeology
and a professional career, which began with the excavations at Chew Valley Lake
(north Somerset) in 1953.
A wide range of excavations in the area followed including Glastonbury Tor
in 1964-1966 and a Romano-Celtic Temple
at Chew Stoke
. He has also excavated at Bordesley Abbey
.
Rahtz later ran summer school excavations for the University of Birmingham
as well as lecturing and in 1978 he was appointed professor at the University of York
.
In 2003 he was awarded the Frend Medal for his outstanding contribution to the archaeology of the early Christian Church.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
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...
.
Rahtz was born in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. After leaving Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England. The school was founded in 1532 by two brothers, Robert and Nicholas Thorne....
, he became an accountant before serving with the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during the Second World War. During war service, Rahtz became friends with the archaeologist Ernest Greenfield
Ernest Greenfield
Ernest Greenfield was a British archaeologist. He served with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. During war service he became friends with Philip Rahtz who persuaded Greenfield to take up professional archaeology. His excavations included the Great Witcombe Roman Villa,...
(excavator of Great Witcombe Roman Villa
Great Witcombe Roman Villa
Great Witcombe Roman Villa was a villa built during the Roman occupation of Britain. It is located on a hillside at Great Witcombe, near Gloucester in the English county of Gloucestershire.-Background:...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
). This friendship sparked a personal interest in 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 a professional career, which began with the excavations at Chew Valley Lake
Chew Valley Lake
Chew Valley Lake is a large reservoir in the Chew Valley, Somerset, England, and the fifth-largest artificial lake in the United Kingdom , with an area of 1,200 acres...
(north Somerset) in 1953.
A wide range of excavations in the area followed including Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury Tor is a hill at Glastonbury, Somerset, England, which features the roofless St. Michael's Tower. The site is managed by the National Trust. It has been designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument ....
in 1964-1966 and a Romano-Celtic Temple
Pagans Hill Roman Temple
The Pagans Hill Roman Temple was a Romano-British-style temple excavated on Pagans Hill at Chew Stoke in the English county of Somerset.-Excavations:...
at Chew Stoke
Chew Stoke
Chew Stoke is a small village and civil parish in the Chew Valley, in Somerset, England, about south of Bristol. It is at the northern edge of the Mendip Hills, a region designated by the United Kingdom as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and is within the Bristol/Bath green belt...
. He has also excavated at Bordesley Abbey
Bordesley Abbey
Bordesley Abbey was a 12th century Cistercian abbey near the town of Redditch, in Worcestershire, England.The abbey's foundation has been attributed to Queen Maud, but it is actually down to Waleran de Beaumont, Count of Meulan who gave the monks of Garendon Abbey in Leicestershire some more land....
.
Rahtz later ran summer school excavations for the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
as well as lecturing and in 1978 he was appointed professor at the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
.
In 2003 he was awarded the Frend Medal for his outstanding contribution to the archaeology of the early Christian Church.