< home # store # services # articles # game # app #contact >

Born on February 14, 1892, in Sydney, Australia. Gordon Childe was a prominent Australian archaeologist and philologist. He made significant contributions to the field of archaeology. Particularly in the areas of European prehistory and the development of complex societies.

Childe’s work focused on understanding the origins of civilization. There transition from hunter-gatherer societies to the agricultural ones. Which in turn became the rise of urban civilizations. He introduced the concept of the “neolithic revolution”. Highlighting the shift from hunting/gathering to farming. And, its critical turning point of human history. Thru this, he also explored the social and economic factors. That led to the emergence of complex societies.

Many of his books remain influential in archaeological theory and interpretation
Including “The Dawn of European Civilization” and “Man Makes Himself”. He was also a key figure in the development of Marxist archaeology. Emphasizing the role of material conditions in shaping human societies.

Throughout his career, Childe held academic positions in Australia and the United Kingdom
Including at the University of Edinburgh, and the Institute of Archaeology in London. He played a significant role in shaping the discipline of archaeology. He remains a foundational figure in the study of prehistoric societies and the origins of civilization.

He passed away on October 19, 1957, in Mount Victoria, New South Wales, Australia

Childe’s work emphasized the importance of social and economic factors in shaping human history. Including the development of Marxist archaeology. Over the years, despite controversies and revisions. Childe’s impact on the field of archaeology is profound and lasting.

Book publications, year & publisher:
The Most Ancient East 1922, 1928 Kegan Paul (London)
How Labour Governs: A Study of Workers’ Representation in Australia 1923 The Labour Publishing Company (London)
The Dawn of European Civilization 1925 Kegan Paul (London)
The Aryans: A Study of Indo-European Origins 1926 Kegan Paul (London)
The Most Ancient East: The Oriental Prelude to European Prehistory 1929 Kegan Paul (London)
The Danube in Prehistory 1929 Oxford University Press (Oxford)
The Bronze Age 1930 Cambridge University Press (Cambridge)
Skara Brae: A Pictish Village in Orkney 1931 Kegan Paul (London)
The Forest Cultures of Northern Europe: A Study in Evolution and Diffusion 1931 Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland (London)
The Continental Affinities of British Neolithic Pottery 1932 Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland (London)
Skara Brae Orkney. Official Guide 1933 Second Edition 1950 (https://archive.org/details/skarabaeofficialguidethirdedition1950images) His Majesty’s Stationery Office (Edinburgh)
New Light on the Most Ancient East: The Oriental Prelude to European Prehistory 1935 Kegal Paul (London)
The Prehistory of Scotland 1935 Kegan Paul (London)
Man Makes Himself 1936, slightly revised 1941, 1951 Watts (London)
Prehistoric Communities of the British Isles 1940, second edition 1947 Chambers (London)
What Happened in History 1942 Penguin Books (Harmondsworth)
The Story of Tools 1944 Cobbett (London)
Progress and Archaeology 1944 Watts (London)
History 1947 Cobbett (London)
Social Worlds of Knowledge 1949 Oxford University Press (London)
Prehistoric Migrations in Europe 1950 Aschehaug (Oslo)
Magic, Craftsmanship and Science 1950 Liverpool University Press (Liverpool)
Piecing Together the Past: The Interpretation of Archeological Data 1956 Routledge and Kegan Paul (London)
A Short Introduction to Archaeology 1956 Muller (London)
The Prehistory of European Society 1958 Penguin (Harmondsworth)
Social Evolution 1951 Schuman (New York)
Illustrated Guide to Ancient Monuments: Vol. VI Scotland 1952 Her Majesty’s Stationery Office (London)
Society and Knowledge: The Growth of Human Traditions 1956 Harper (New York)

Bibliography:
Trigger, Bruce (1980). Gordon Childe: Revolutions in Archaeology (https://archive.org/details/gordonchilderevo00trigrich). London: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-02310-5038-8.

Brothwell, Don (2009). “Childe, His Student, and Archaeological Science: An Epilogue”. European Journal of Archaeology. 12 (1–3): 193–202. doi:10.1177/1461957109339688 (https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1461957109339688). S2CID 162835305 (https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:162835305).

Allen, Jim (1967). “Aspects of V. Gordon Childe”. Labour History. 12 (12): 52–59. doi:10.2307/27507861 (https://doi.org/10.2307%2F27507861). JSTOR 27507861 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/27507861).

Renfrew, Colin (1994). “Concluding Remarks: Childe and the Study of Culture Process”. In David R. Harris (ed.). The Archaeology of V. Gordon Childe: Contemporary Perspectives. London:UCL Press. pp. 121–133. ISBN 978-1-8572-8220-7.

Green, Sally (1981). Prehistorian: A Biography of V. Gordon Childe. Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire:Moonraker Press. ISBN 978-0-2390-0206-8.