Edith Mary Wightman | |
---|---|
Born | 1 January 1938 |
Died | 17 December 1983 | (aged 45)
Nationality | British |
Occupation(s) | Archaeologist, ancient historian |
Edith Mary Wightman FSA (1 January 1938 – 17 December 1983) was a British ancient historian and archaeologist. She was Assistant-Professor and then Professor at McMaster University (1969–1983). Wightman was best known for her studies Roman Trier and Gallia Belgica.
Edith Mary Wightman was born on 1 January 1938 in Scotland, the daughter of R. J. and Edith W. Wightman. [1] She undertook undergraduate studies at the University of St Andrews, receiving her MA in 1960. [2] Next, she studied in Oxford with Ian Richmond and C.E. Stevens, receiving a diploma in Classical Archaeology in 1962, and a DPhil in 1968. [2] Her dissertation on Roman Trier and the Treveri was published as a monograph in 1970. [2] Wightman lectured at the University of Leicester from 1965 to 1969, [2] before joining the Department of History at McMaster University in 1969, [3] replacing her predecessor Edward Togo Salmon as Professor of Ancient History. [2]
Wightman undertook archaeological fieldwork in the Mediterranean as part of three projects; at Monte Irsi under the direction of Alaster Small, [3] [4] as co-director of the Second Canadian Team excavations at Carthage alongside Colin Wells, [5] and as the director of the multidisciplinary field survey project in the Liri Valley, Italy. [6]
Wightman's work has been described as a "model of how to combine literary, epigraphic, and archaeological data with caution and imagination [7] Research for Gallia Belgica involved annual research visits to archaeological institutes in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands. [8] Her posthumously published survey of Gallia Belgica has been described as "magisterial", [9] and John Percival stated that "it is hard to think of a better study of an individual Roman province in terms of comprehensiveness and reliability". [10] Underlying her work was a "concern for the Roman countryside and its population". [3] She was noted for her skill as a researcher and as a teacher, [3] and as "a much loved and respected scholar". [10]
Wightman was murdered on 17 December 1983 in her office at McMaster University. [1] [2] She was found lying on the floor with her eyes and mouth bound with surgical tape and her hands handcuffed behind her back. [11] According to the police, credit cards were missing and robbery was probably the motive for the killing. [11] A 27-year-old chemist was charged with the murder some weeks later. [12]
Wightman was elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1973, a foreign associate member of the Société des Antiquaires de France in 1976, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1982. [2]
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Edith Mary Wightman | |
---|---|
Born | 1 January 1938 |
Died | 17 December 1983 | (aged 45)
Nationality | British |
Occupation(s) | Archaeologist, ancient historian |
Edith Mary Wightman FSA (1 January 1938 – 17 December 1983) was a British ancient historian and archaeologist. She was Assistant-Professor and then Professor at McMaster University (1969–1983). Wightman was best known for her studies Roman Trier and Gallia Belgica.
Edith Mary Wightman was born on 1 January 1938 in Scotland, the daughter of R. J. and Edith W. Wightman. [1] She undertook undergraduate studies at the University of St Andrews, receiving her MA in 1960. [2] Next, she studied in Oxford with Ian Richmond and C.E. Stevens, receiving a diploma in Classical Archaeology in 1962, and a DPhil in 1968. [2] Her dissertation on Roman Trier and the Treveri was published as a monograph in 1970. [2] Wightman lectured at the University of Leicester from 1965 to 1969, [2] before joining the Department of History at McMaster University in 1969, [3] replacing her predecessor Edward Togo Salmon as Professor of Ancient History. [2]
Wightman undertook archaeological fieldwork in the Mediterranean as part of three projects; at Monte Irsi under the direction of Alaster Small, [3] [4] as co-director of the Second Canadian Team excavations at Carthage alongside Colin Wells, [5] and as the director of the multidisciplinary field survey project in the Liri Valley, Italy. [6]
Wightman's work has been described as a "model of how to combine literary, epigraphic, and archaeological data with caution and imagination [7] Research for Gallia Belgica involved annual research visits to archaeological institutes in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands. [8] Her posthumously published survey of Gallia Belgica has been described as "magisterial", [9] and John Percival stated that "it is hard to think of a better study of an individual Roman province in terms of comprehensiveness and reliability". [10] Underlying her work was a "concern for the Roman countryside and its population". [3] She was noted for her skill as a researcher and as a teacher, [3] and as "a much loved and respected scholar". [10]
Wightman was murdered on 17 December 1983 in her office at McMaster University. [1] [2] She was found lying on the floor with her eyes and mouth bound with surgical tape and her hands handcuffed behind her back. [11] According to the police, credit cards were missing and robbery was probably the motive for the killing. [11] A 27-year-old chemist was charged with the murder some weeks later. [12]
Wightman was elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1973, a foreign associate member of the Société des Antiquaires de France in 1976, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1982. [2]
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: others (
link)
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: others (
link)