Edith Wightman Explained

Edith Mary Wightman
Birth Date:1 January 1938
Birth Place:Scotland
Nationality:British
Occupation:Archaeologist, ancient historian

Edith Mary Wightman FSA (1 January 1938 – 17 December 1983) was a British ancient historian and archaeologist. She was Assistant-Professor and then Professor at McMaster University (1969–1983). Wightman was best known for her studies Roman Trier and Gallia Belgica.

Biography

Edith Mary Wightman was born on 1 January 1938 in Scotland, the daughter of R. J. and Edith W. Wightman. She undertook undergraduate studies at the University of St Andrews, receiving her MA in 1960.[1] Next, she studied in Oxford with Ian Richmond and C.E. Stevens, receiving a diploma in Classical Archaeology in 1962, and a DPhil in 1968.[1] Her dissertation on Roman Trier and the Treveri was published as a monograph in 1970.[1] Wightman lectured at the University of Leicester from 1965 to 1969,[1] before joining the Department of History at McMaster University in 1969,[2] replacing her predecessor Edward Togo Salmon as Professor of Ancient History.[1]

Wightman undertook archaeological fieldwork in the Mediterranean as part of three projects; at Monte Irsi under the direction of Alaster Small,[2] [3] as co-director of the Second Canadian Team excavations at Carthage alongside Colin Wells,[4] and as the director of the multidisciplinary field survey project in the Liri Valley, Italy.[5]

Wightman's work has been described as a "model of how to combine literary, epigraphic, and archaeological data with caution and imagination[6] Research for Gallia Belgica involved annual research visits to archaeological institutes in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands.[7] Her posthumously published survey of Gallia Belgica has been described as "magisterial",[8] and John Percival stated that "it is hard to think of a better study of an individual Roman province in terms of comprehensiveness and reliability".[9] Underlying her work was a "concern for the Roman countryside and its population".[2] She was noted for her skill as a researcher and as a teacher,[2] and as "a much loved and respected scholar".[9]

Death

Wightman was murdered on 17 December 1983 in her office at McMaster University.[10] [1] She was found lying on the floor with her eyes and mouth bound with surgical tape and her hands handcuffed behind her back.[11] According to the police, credit cards were missing and robbery was probably the motive for the killing.[11] A 27-year-old chemist was charged with the murder some weeks later.[12]

Honours

Wightman was elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1973, a foreign associate member of the Société des Antiquaires de France in 1976, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1982.[1]

Works

Notes and References

  1. Book: Ridgway. David. Biographical Dictionary of North American Classicists by American Philological Association. 1994. 709. Edith Wightman.
  2. Rossiter. J. 1984. Edith Mary Wightman. Échos du Monde Classique. 28. 302–3.
  3. Book: Monte Irsi, Southern Italy : the Canadian excavations in the Iron Age and Roman sites, 1971-1972. 1977. British Archaeological Reports. Small, Alastair., Barker, Graeme.. 090453166X. Oxford. 3390190.
  4. Hitchner. R. Bruce . R. Bruce Hitchner . 2010. Professor Colin Michael Wells. Libyan Studies. 41. 5–6. 10.1017/S0263718900000236. 0263-7189. free.
  5. Book: Archaeological survey in the Lower Liri Valley, Central Italy. 1994. Tempvs Reparatvm. Wightman, Edith Mary, -1983., Hayes, John W., Martini, I. P. (Ireneo Peter), 1935-. 9780860547693. Oxford. 32394341.
  6. Book: Woolf. G.. The Roman Family in the Empire: Rome, Italy, and Beyond. 2005. Oxford University Press. George. M.. Oxford. 231–254. Family History in the Roman North-West.
  7. Laet. S. J. De. 1987. Wightman Edith Mary . Gallia Belgica. London: B. T. Batsford, 1985. xiv + 386 pp., 84 illus. £19.95.. Antiquity. 61. 231. 145–146. 10.1017/S0003598X00072732. 0003-598X.
  8. Book: The Archaeology of the Roman Economy. Greene. K.. 1986. B. T. Batsford Ltd. London. 141.
  9. Percival. John. 1986. Gallia Belgica. By Wightman Edith Mary. 24 × 15·5 cm. Pp. xiv + 386, 44 figs. + 40 pls. London: B. T. Batsford, 1985. ISBN 0-7134-4609-9. £19·95.. The Antiquaries Journal. 66. 2. 432. 10.1017/S0003581500028377. 163644486 . 1758-5309.
  10. Web site: Wightman, Edith Mary. Gordon. Laura. Database of Classical Scholars Rutgers, University of New Jersey. en-gb. 2020-04-25.
  11. Web site: Canadian News Briefs. 12 January 1984. United Press International. en. 2020-04-25.
  12. Transvestite charged in murder. In: The Cord Weekly, 19 January 1984, p. 8 (online).

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