Staying Behind

G.W.L. Harding (1901-1979)
The grave of G.L. Harding, Gerasa, Jordan. Photo: TMK, May 2009.

The archaeologist Gerald Lankester Harding is a name closely associated with Qumran as well as Jordanian and Palestinian archaeology in general. He is also one of the members of a small exclusive club of archaeologists that are buried on sites where they were active. The above photo shows his grave on the site of Jerash (Gerasa) in Jordan. I’m strangely fascinated by such cases, the ultimate manifestations of archaeologists that have gotten so attached to an archaeological site that they somehow never manage to leave. Another example is Kenan Erim who is buried at Aphrodisias.

Previously on this blog: Heinrich Schliemann’s tomb in Athens.

Reference
Winnet, F.V., 1980. Tribute: Gerald Lankester Harding 1901-1979. The Biblical Archaeologist, 43(2), 127.

Update 7 December: See now also Katie’s post on the graves of archaeologists.

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