Professor Lord Colin Renfrew, a highly influential British archaeologist renowned for his work on prehistoric civilizations, particularly the Cycladic, has passed away at the age of 87.
Renfrew's pioneering cognitive approach significantly shaped the field of archaeology. His contributions spanned various areas, including radiocarbon dating, prehistory of languages, archaeogenetics, neuroarchaeology, and the fight against looting of archaeological sites.
Born in Stockton-on-Tees, England on July 25, 1937, Renfrew studied Natural Sciences followed by Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge University, graduating in 1962. His 1965 doctoral thesis focused on the "Neolithic and Bronze Age cultures of the Cyclades and their external relations." He led excavations at Quanterness, Orkney, and at Phylakopi on the Greek island of Milos.
Renfrew's groundbreaking 1973 book, Before Civilisation: The Radiocarbon Revolution and Prehistoric Europe, challenged the established belief that cultural innovation in prehistory originated in the Near East and spread to Europe. He also collaborated with archaeologist Marija Gimbutas on excavations at Sitagroi in northern Greece.
In 1981, he was appointed Disney Professor of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge, a position he held until retirement. He also founded and directed the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at Cambridge, starting in 1990.
Renfrew's engagement with the Cyclades continued late into his career. From 2006 to 2008, he directed new excavations and co-directed a survey on the island of Keros.
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