rchaeology, the study of the material remnants of human activity, provided Victorians with opportunities to pursue a number of their abiding interests: the collection and display of impressive objects, the geology of deep time, the nature of antiquity, and the study of the Bible, to name a few. As it brought together so many areas of intense interest, archaeology was popular among Victorians, and the activities of Victorian archaeological excavators were covered extensively and often breathlessly in the press. As the nineteenth century wore on, archaeological knowledge became increasingly specialized. Universities developed degree programs, and informal associations of enthusiasts gave way to formal organizations with specialized publications and conferences. In short, a popular fascination matured into a science. The series of articles linked below provides an introduction to Victorian archaeology on The Victorian Web.
Victorian Archaeology
- Excavators, Artifacts, Politics
- Beyond Heroic Narratives and Splendid Artifacts
- Archaeology in Victorian Popular Culture and Visual Art
- Archaeology as a Discipline
- Bibliography
Last modified 13 August 2021