SIR JOHN EVANS ARCHIVE
'from the examination of ancient remains, to recall into an ideal existence days long since passed away' – John Evans, Archaeologica, 1860
Sir John Evans (1823–1908) archaeologist, geologist, numismatist, and businessman, was one of the foremost scientific figures of his time.
He was a pioneer in the fields of prehistoric archaeology and numismatics, and one of most eminent antiquarian collectors and thinkers of his day. His meticulous research brought a new structure and clarity to the study of European artefacts, and greatly assisted the developing field of archaeology.
Sir John Evans portrait by John Collier, 1905, oil on canvas © Ashmolean Museum
Sir John’s archaeological collection and research papers were given to the Ashmolean by his son, Sir Arthur Evans, in 1927. Further papers were donated to the Ashmolean by his great-grandson, Arthur L. Evans in 1985.
The archive records Sir John’s research and collecting activities from the 1850s to 1908, and is of international importance regarding key issues of Victorian scholarship, including the question of the antiquity of humans. Most of the archaeological papers are held by the Department of Antiquities, and numismatic papers are held by the Heberden Coin Room.
The Sir John Evans Centenary Project was conducted by the Ashmolean in 2003–08, with the aim of improving access to information about Sir John’s archaeological collection and research archive. The work was funded by the Leverhulme Trust.
