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Eric Barff Birley〔"(Emeritus Professor Eric Barff Birley, M.B.E., M.A.,Dr.Phil.,D.Litt., F.B.A., Hon.F.S.A.Scot. )," Society of Antiquaries of London. n.d. ''(Retrieved 18 October 2010.)''〕 (12 January 1906 – 20 October 1995), was a British historian and archaeologist, particularly associated with the excavation of the forts of Hadrian's Wall, notably at Vindolanda. He was born in Eccles, Lancashire, England, on 12 January 1906.〔Wilkes, John. "(Obituary: Professor Eric Birley )," ''The Independent''. Thursday, 26 October 1995. ''(Retrieved 18 October 2010.)''〕〔Breeze, David J. "(Eric Birley (1906–1995): Vice-President 1951–1995 )," () ''Britannia''. Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies. Vol. 27, (1996), pp. xi–xiv. ''(Retrieved 18 October 2010.)''〕 He died at Carvoran House, Greenhead,〔"(Professor Eric Barff Birley )," thePeerage.com. ''(Retrieved 18 October 2010.)''〕 Northumberland, England, on 20 October 1995, age 89.〔 == Education and career == Birley was educated at Clifton College. He then studided classics at Brasenose College, Oxford, where he obtained a double first in Mods and Greats.〔"(Hatfield College History: Principals & Masters )," ''Durham University''. ''(Retrieved 18 October 2010).''〕 He was influenced in the study of history and archaeology by Michael Holroyd, his Brasenose tutor;〔 R. G. Collingwood, the renowned authority on Roman Britain;〔 and F.G. Simpson, Director of Field Studies at Durham, and a great influence on Birley vis-à-vis the art and science of excavation.〔Draper, Simon. "(From Aesica to Asia: A Short History of Archaeology at Durham University )," ''Durham University''. ''(Retrieved 18 October 2010.)''〕 Under the direction of F.G. Simpson, Birley began excavating at Hadrian's Wall in 1927 while an undergraduate.〔 Birley's first archaeological dig occurred at Birdoswald.〔 After graduating from Oxford, Birley worked for a short time for the Society of Antiquaries of London acting as a construction site observer for the Society.〔〔 It was during this period in London that Birley befriended Mortimer Wheeler of the London Museum engendering in Birley a lifelong interest in "imported Roman 'samian' pottery with moulded decoration."〔 A chance discovery in 1929 of two inscription stones in the ''praetentura''〔"'forward extent' This was the front part of the camp, between the ''via principalis'' and the ''porta praetoria'', and bisected by the ''via praetoria''. This area was generally filled with the tents or barrack-blocks of the garrison, the first cohort of a legion being always housed here. In the camp described by Hyginus, this area also contained the ''valetudinarium'' and ''veterinarium'', the tribunes' houses, the ''scholae'' of the officers, and the ''fabrica''; most of these building being transferred to the ''latera praetorii'' in the auxiliary forts." from "(The Roman Army in Britain: Roman Military Glossary ), Roman-Britain.org ''(Retrieved 2010-10-18)''〕 at Birdoswald led Birley to suggest redating the Wall periods. This discovery, and Birley's redating, impacted the study of Roman Britain tremendously inasmuch as it "has formed the basis of all subsequent work on the chronology of Hadrian's Wall."〔 In 1929, having developed a keen interest in the Wall through his excavations, Birley succeeded in buying the Clayton Estate〔 at Chesterholm〔〔 that had belonged to Anthony Hedley, the 19th century antiquary.〔 Nearby Houselands would also come up for sale; however, Birley could not afford the purchase of both properties, although he would eventually excavate them both.〔 Chesterholm-Vindolanda would eventually be converted into a museum and research centre, in which the spectacular finds from Vindolanda would be displayed and interpreted. In 1931, at the age of 24, he became a lecturer〔〔 at the University of Durham, "already with an impressive record of excavation on Hadrian's Wall, partly under the guidance of F.G. Simpson,"〔 whom he would replace upon the latter's stepping down as Director of Field Studies.〔 Through trips to Germany and Switzerland, he began to expand his expertise in samian pottery, epigraphy, and his primary field of interest, the Roman army.〔 As a consequence of these trips abroad, his continental reputation grew.〔 In 1943, he was promoted to Reader.〔〔 In 1947, he became Vice Master of Hatfield College.〔〔 In 1949, he was promoted to Master of Hatfield.〔〔 He would finish his academic career having been Master of Hatfield College (1949–1956);〔〔〔 Professor of Romano-British History and Archaeology (1956–1971);〔〔〔 Head of the Department of Archaeology (1956–1971);〔〔 and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences (1968–1971).〔 In 1949, Birley established the first International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies.〔 During his tenure, he was president of all three of the local archaeological societies.〔 Also, during his years at Durham, he would influence such notable students as George Jobey and John Gillam, each of whom would go on to hold prestigious university teaching positions.〔 One student recalls that Birley was "incredibly generous and trusting in … () … support to students."〔 Birley would become known as an expert on the Roman army. For his "practical experience of the ways in which modern armies work," he was inspired in asking questions about organisation and methods of the Roman army.〔Eric Birley: “Introduction,” ''(The Roman Army: Papers 1929–1986 ).'' Amsterdam: J.C. Gieben, 1988. p. vii.〕 His expertise and work in this field served to make Birley the founder of the "Durham School" of archaeology having attracted several highly-talented and influential postgraduate students to the Department, whose research has … "epitomised, and to a large degree set the agenda for, British work on the Roman military for much of the twentieth century."〔James, Simon. “Writing the legions: the development and future of Roman military studies in Britain,” ''Archaeological Journal''. 2002. v. 159, pp. 1–58. As cited in Draper.〕 Often known collectively as the "Durham School," they include David Breeze (Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments for Historic Scotland and Visiting Professor at Durham University since 1994), Brian Dobson (Emeritus Reader at Durham University), the late Mike Jarrett (former Professor at Cardiff University), Valerie Maxfield (Professor at Exeter University) and John Wilkes (Emeritus Professor at the London Institute of Archaeology).〔Birley's influence is still very much alive in the Archaeology Department at Durham University: "Durham Archaeology is still founded on the vision and determination of its early pioneers, notably Eric Birley and … () … influence lives on in successive generations of staff and students."〔 In Birley's obituary, former Durham PhD student and Emeritus Yates Professor of Greek and Roman Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, John Wilkes wrote in ''The Independent'' that "Eric Birley dominated the study of the Roman army, of Hadrian's Wall and Roman frontiers in general for much of his 40 years as a teacher at Durham University, interrupted only by six years of war service, when he was engaged in the study of the German army for Military Intelligence."〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Eric Birley」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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