Duncan Mackenzie
Encyclopedia
Duncan Mackenzie was a Scottish
archaeologist, whose work focused on one of the more spectacular 20th century archaeological
finds, Crete's palace of Knossos
, the supposed centre of Minoan civilisation.
He was born to a poor Highland
family in Ross and Cromarty
, Scotland
; studied philosophy
at Edinburgh University; and received his PhD
from Vienna
in classical archaeology. After earning a great reputation as a field archaeologist at Phylakopi
, he was recommended to Sir Arthur Evans
to help him run his dig at Knossos. The two would work together for the next thirty years.
Mackenzie was Evans' second in command during his excavations of Knossos. He kept detailed records as Evans' assistant of daily discoveries and served as a middle man between Evans and the inhabitants of Crete
. Despite the crucial role he played in the excavations, Mackenzie was eventually fired by Evans. In Time and Chance, Joan Evans said that Mackenzie became very difficult to work during the latter years of his curatorship because of "the gradual onset of his illness." It has also been said that Evans found Mackenzie one night passed out on a table and fired him the next day. Friends of Mackenzie disputed this, saying he did not drink. In any case, this removal devastated Mackenzie and exacerbated the mental illness from which he already suffered.
After Mackenzie's death in Italy
, some of Evans' system of Minoan dating came into question. Mackenzie's meticulous work was the key witness in defense of Evans' work. Though there was conflict between Evans and Mackenzie, Evans respected Mackenzie for his contributions to the excavation and paid tribute to his right-hand man in the last volume of The Palace of Minos.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
archaeologist, whose work focused on one of the more spectacular 20th century archaeological
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...
finds, Crete's palace of Knossos
Knossos
Knossos , also known as Labyrinth, or Knossos Palace, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and probably the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square...
, the supposed centre of Minoan civilisation.
He was born to a poor Highland
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
family in Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty is a variously defined area in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. There is a registration county and a lieutenancy area in current use...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
; studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at Edinburgh University; and received his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in classical archaeology. After earning a great reputation as a field archaeologist at Phylakopi
Phylakopi
Phylakopi , located at the northern coast of the island of Milos, is one of the most important Bronze Age settlements in the Aegean and especially in the Cyclades. The importance of Phylakopi is in its almost continuous inhabitance throughout the Bronze Age Phylakopi (Greek=Φυλακωπή), located at...
, he was recommended to Sir Arthur Evans
Arthur Evans
Sir Arthur John Evans FRS was a British archaeologist most famous for unearthing the palace of Knossos on the Greek island of Crete and for developing the concept of Minoan civilization from the structures and artifacts found there and elsewhere throughout eastern Mediterranean...
to help him run his dig at Knossos. The two would work together for the next thirty years.
Mackenzie was Evans' second in command during his excavations of Knossos. He kept detailed records as Evans' assistant of daily discoveries and served as a middle man between Evans and the inhabitants of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
. Despite the crucial role he played in the excavations, Mackenzie was eventually fired by Evans. In Time and Chance, Joan Evans said that Mackenzie became very difficult to work during the latter years of his curatorship because of "the gradual onset of his illness." It has also been said that Evans found Mackenzie one night passed out on a table and fired him the next day. Friends of Mackenzie disputed this, saying he did not drink. In any case, this removal devastated Mackenzie and exacerbated the mental illness from which he already suffered.
After Mackenzie's death in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, some of Evans' system of Minoan dating came into question. Mackenzie's meticulous work was the key witness in defense of Evans' work. Though there was conflict between Evans and Mackenzie, Evans respected Mackenzie for his contributions to the excavation and paid tribute to his right-hand man in the last volume of The Palace of Minos.
See also
- Linear B