Crawford Hallock Greenewalt Jr.

Crawford Hallock Greenewalt Jr.

Crawford Hallock Greenewalt Jr. died on 4 May 2012 at the home of his sister and brother-in-law, Nancy G. and William H. Frederick Jr. near Wilmington, Delaware. The cause of death was a brain tumor.

He was the retired Director of the Archaeological Exploration at Sardis, Turkey (Nr. Izmir) and retired professor of Classics and Archaeology at University of California - Berkeley.

He was born on June 3, 1937 in Wilmington, Delaware. His parents were Crawford H. Greenewalt and Margaretta L. Greenewalt. His brother, David Greenewalt predeceased him (2003). He is survived by his sister Nancy G. Frederick and 10 nieces and nephews: Gavin K. Greenewalt of Shoreham, VT, David L. Greenewalt of East Dumberton, VT, Barbara T. Greenewalt of Middlebury, VT, Henry C. Greenewalt of Wye Mills, MD, Charlotte S. Greenewalt Barus of Leeds, ME, Frederick deL. Greenewalt of Charlottsville, VA, Richard H. Frederick of Hockessin, DE, Peter C. Frederick of Archer, FL, Margaretta S. Frederick of Newark, DE, Rebecca G. Frederick of Hockessin, DE , and 18 grandnieces and grandnephews.

He was educated at Tower Hill School, Wilmington, Delaware; Harvard College (B.A. 1959) and University of Pennsylvania (Ph.D. 1966).

He was interested in ancient civilization at the age of eight, and his passion never wavered. He excavated for more than half a century at the archaeological site of Sardis in western Turkey, whose last king Croesus remains proverbial for his wealth. He first came to Sardis as photographer in 1959, just after graduating from Harvard; and returned there every summer thereafter, as archaeologist and then, after 1976, as the director of the project. He did graduate studies with Rodney Young at the University of Pennsylvania, finishing his doctorate in 1966. He excavated at Gordion in Turkey under Dr, Young, and then on the excavations of Turkish archaeologist Ekrem Akurgal at Pitane and old Smyrna; but he always returned to Sardis. In 1966 he began his teaching career at the University of California-Berkeley, where he remained unitil he retired in 2010.

Throughout his career, Crawford's focus of research was archaeology of ancient Sardis and the Lydians, the native Anatolian people famous as the inventors of coinage. He excavated throughout the site, fundamentally transforming our knowledge of the ancient city. As a student he also dug at the nearby royal cemetery at Bin Tepe, spending three summers tunneling in one of the colossal burial mounds. As director he oversaw the excavation of the colossal fortification and wall and many of its monuments. His publications include about 100 articles and essays, primarily about the archaeology of Lydia, and particularly on Lydian and East Greek pottery.

Dr. Greenewalt was a member of the American Philosophical Society, and a corresponding member of the German Archaeological Institute and the Austrian Archaeological Institute. He was a strong supporter of the American Research Institute in Turkey and many other organizations encouraging scholarship and research, and of his many interests, including opera and classical music, theater, Ottoman history, and modern Greek studies.

He was highly respected and remembered with fondness by all who came in contact with him: professional colleagues, students, fellow workers in Turkey and friends.

Holidays were in Delaware with his family and friends. As a bachelor, his relationship with his nieces and nephews and their spouses and families was one of great warmth and affection.

Burial will be private. A memorial service will held at 3 pm Saturday, 19 May at Christ Church Christiana Hundred, Wilmington, Delaware.

In lieu of flowers, contributions should be made to the Archaeological Exploration at Sardis, Harvard Art Museum, 32 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138.

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