Graves’ Concerns
The 1841–2 Xanthos Expedition
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8889583 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Roswyn Wiltshire (Oxford Archaeology, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 104 |
| Pages | 343-365 |
| Publication date | 2024-09-18 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Antiquaries Journal (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0003-5815 • E-ISSN: 1758-5309 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s0003581524000155 |
| OpenAlex | W4402607100 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 11 |
The expeditions removing and excavating antiquities at the site of Xanthos in Lycia (1841–4) have been highlighted by scholars as setting a new precedent for whole-sale collection from a single site, and the support – through the national museum and the Royal Navy – of the British government for archaeological endeavours. Questions remain, however, regarding the failure of the first mission to remove the antiquities. According to the current narrative, the blame rests on the navy officer assigned to support Charles Fellows. Based on archival research, this article presents the concerns that Commander Thomas Graves had with the undertaking. His perspective sheds new light on how ill-planned the initial attempts were, and consequently how much was learned. The obstacles encountered in the first Xanthos expedition spurred developments in archaeological practice, introduced by people of non-academic professions
Geography · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Classical Antiquity Studies · History · Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |