Charles Higham (archaeologist)

Charles Higham (1939-) is a British archaeologist most noted for his work in Southeast Asia. Among his noted contributions to archaeology are his work (including several documentaries) about the Angkor civilization in Cambodia, and his current work at Ban Non Wat. He is a professor at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand and lives at Macandrew Bay.

Early years and education

Charles Higham's father was an architect. He became interested in archaeology at the age of 14 and, the following summer, he worked on the excavations at Snail Down near Stonehenge with his brother. Later he helped with excavations in Wales, France and Greece.

Higham studied archaeology and anthropology at St. Catharine's College, Cambridge where he obtained a double first and was elected a senior scholar of his college. He also played in the University's rugby team. Higham based his doctoral thesis on prehistoric economies in Switzerland and Denmark.

Career

With Clarke's help, he was employed by the University of Otago and taught European prehistory. In 1967, he moved to New Zealand with his family. There he used shells from an ancient midden to study migrations of prehistoric Māori tribes. In 1968 he was appointed the Foundation Professor of Anthropology at the University of Otago.

In 1969 Higham met US archaeologists Wilhelm Solheim, Donn Bayard and Chester Gorman in Hawaii and in 1971, joined Gorman in the excavations in Northern Thailand at Banyan Valley Cave.

In 1974 they and Thai archaeologist Prisit Charoenwongsa studied the looted site of Ban Chiang and discovered signs of bronzeworking then erroneously dated to about 3500 BC. SInce then, his research at the Bronze Age sites of Ban Na Di, Nong Nor, Ban Lum Khao and Ban Non Wat have shown that the initial Bronze Age in this part of Southeast Asia began in the 11th century BC

In 1984 Higham joined forces with Thai archaeologist Rachanie Thorasat to excavate the mound of Khok Phanom Di, undertaking forensic analyses of skeletons and two well-preserved bodies, testing strontium isotopes and checked the soil for seeds and pollen. In 1994 Higham and Thosarat began a multidisciplinary program Origins of Angkor to study the region's Iron Age from around 500 BC.

As of 2009, Higham is leading excavations in Ban Non Wat in Thailand, working with Thai archaeologists.

Charles Higham is a corresponding Fellow of the British Academy and an Honorary Fellow of St. Catharine's College Cambridge.

Publications (selection)

• Early Cultures of Mainland Southeast Asia, Art Media Resources 2003, ISBN 1-58886-028-0
• The Civilization of Angkor, University of California Press 2004, ISBN 0-520-24218-1

Sources

• Tom Gidwitz - Uncovering Ancient Thailand (Archaeology magazine July/August 2006)

External links

• Website at the University of Otago

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Name	Higham, Charles
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Date of birth	1939
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