Axel W. Persson

{{Short description|Swedish archaeologist (1888–1951)}} {{About|the archaeologist|the cyclist|Axel Persson}} thumb|Axel Waldemar Persson. 1938 '''Axel Waldemar Persson''' (1 June 1888 – 7 May 1951) was a Swedish archaeologist. He was professor of classical archaeology and ancient history at Uppsala University and conducted excavations of sites in Greece and in Asia Minor. <ref name=sok>{{cite web|url= https://sok.riksarkivet.se/sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=7106 |title= Axel W Persson|website= Svenskt biografiskt lexikon |access-date=September 1, 2020}} </ref>

==Biography== Persson was born at Kvidinge in Skåne County, Sweden. He studied at Lund University, as well as at the universities of Göttingen and Berlin. He conducted a study trip to France, Italy, Greece and Asia Minor during 1920–21.<ref name=snk>{{cite web|url= https://kulturpersoner.uppsalakyrkogardar.se/axel-w-persson/ |title= Axel W Persson|website = Gamla Kyrkogården I Uppsala|access-date=September 1, 2020}} </ref>

He excavated sites in the Argolid in Greece, including Asine, Dendra and Midea, as well as other sites in Asia Minor including Milas and Labraunda, searching for the origins of the Linear B writing system. In the summer of 1926, he excavated an unpaved tholos tomb at Dendrá in Argolis The finds were added to the National Archaeological Museum, Athens. In 1935, he excavated a prehistoric hill at Gencik Tepe in south-eastern Anatolia region of Turkey and Hellenistic chamber tombs at Milas. In 1937, he returned to Dendrá where he excavated a chamber tomb. <ref name="sok"/>

Persson became an associate professor at Lund University in 1915 and a professor at Uppsala University from 1924. He was professor of classical archaeology and ancient history at Uppsala University until his retirement in 1951. He was of great importance as an inspiring teacher. His graduates, including Åke Åkerström and Einar Gjerstad, made significant contributions to the field of archaeology.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.scribd.com/document/49476735/%C3%85ke-%C3%85kerstrom-in-memoriam|title= Åke Åkerström in memoriam |website = scribd.com|access-date=September 1, 2020}} </ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/brill-s-new-pauly-supplements-i-6/gjerstad-einar-COM_00272 |title= Gjerstad, Einar|website = Brill |access-date=September 1, 2020}} </ref><ref name="snk"/>

==Personal life== He was married during 1913 to Victoria Mirea (1887–1958), He died during 1951 and was buried at Uppsala gamla kyrkogård.<ref name="snk"/> ==References== {{reflist}}

==Other sources== *{{citation|last=Chadwick|first=John|title=The Decipherment of Linear B|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1990|isbn=978-0-521-39830-5|pages=30–31}}. *{{citation|last=Furumark|first=Arne|author-link=Arne Furumark|title=Axel W. Persson|journal=Minos. Revista de Filología Egea|year=1951|page=112}}. *{{citation|last=Gjersted |first=Einar |title=Ages and Days in Cyprus |series=Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology |publisher=Pocket Books |year=1980 |pages=9–10 |url=http://www.astromeditions.com/library/Bookresp.asp?Book=PB12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707181451/http://www.astromeditions.com/library/Bookresp.asp?Book=PB12 |archivedate=2011-07-07 }}. *{{citation|last=Green|first=Erik|title=Bibliography of the writings of Axel W. Persson|journal=Opuscula Atheniensia|volume=1|year=1953|pages=224–236}}. *{{citation|last=Koşay|first=Hâmit Zübeir|language=Turkish|year=1951|title=Axel Waldemar Persson 1888-1951}}. *{{citation|last=Medwid|first=Linda M.|title=The makers of classical archaeology: a reference work|publisher=Humanity Books|year=2000|isbn=978-1-57392-826-7|pages=237–239|contribution=Axel W(aldemar) Persson}}. *{{citation|title=The archaeological excavations at Milas and Gencik Tepe, 1938|publisher=Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul|url=https://www.arkeologi.uu.se/Research/Projects/labraunda-en/ }}. Retrieved 2009-08-13. *{{citation|url=http://www.labraunda.org/Labraunda.org/Excavations_eng.html|title=Labraunda: The Excavations|publisher=Swedish Excavations at Labraunda}}. Retrieved 2009-08-13.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Persson, Axel Waldemar}} Category:1888 births Category:1951 deaths Category:People from Åstorp Municipality Category:20th-century Swedish archaeologists Category: Lund University alumni Category:Academic staff of Lund University Category:Academic staff of Uppsala University Category:Burials at Uppsala old cemetery