1750s in archaeology

The decade of the 1750s in archaeology involved some significant events.

Explorations

* 1755: At Bath, England, when the Priory or Abbey house is demolished and the foundations are cleared, stone coffins, bones of various animals, and other things are found. "The Excavations of Roman Baths at Bath" (E-text), Charles E. Davis, 2004-10-02, Project Gutenberg, eBook #13582, webpage: [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/13582/13582-8.txt G5828] .] Upon digging further, hot mineral waters gushed forth and interrupted the work: the old Roman sewer had been found, and the water was drained off. Foundations of regular buildings were traced at that time.

Excavations

* 1755: In the excavations of the Roman Baths at Bath, England, a site is discovered that leads to the excavations of a great bath, afterwards called Lucas's Bath, when the eastern wall of the great Hall is opened.
* Formal excavations continue at Pompeii.

Finds

* 1754: A hoard of about 207 Roman gold coins (and one silver coin) are discovered at Menzelen just outside Xanten on the lower Rhine.
* 1754: Crystal Caverns (Virginia) is discovered at Hupp's Hill near Strasburg, Virginia.
* 1754: Uranium is discovered by petroleum geologists who were utilizing airborne scintillators in an attempt to locate petroleum traps.
* 1755: Several sepulchral inscriptions and figures, in bas-relief, are discovered at Bonn in Lower Germany.
* 1755: Magnesium is discovered by Joseph Black of Scotland: named after a region in Greece, magnesium is a silvery-white, shiny metal.

Publications

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Other events

* 1751: The Society of Antiquaries of London receives its Royal charter.

Births

* 1754: "date unknown" - William Cunnington, pioneering English antiquarian and archaeologist of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century (died 1810).
* 1755: May 16 - Honoré Flaugergues (died c.1833).
* 1758: December 9 - Richard Colt Hoare, English antiquarian and archaeologist of the early nineteenth century (died 1838).

Deaths

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Notes