1921 in archaeology
Below are notable events in archaeology that occurred in 1921.
Explorations
- Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian, China is discovered by Swedish geologist Johan Gunnar Andersson and American palaeontologist Walter W. Granger.
Excavations
- Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian, China is first excavated by Austrian palaeontologist Otto Zdansky.
- Excavations at Beit She'an by the University of Pennsylvania begin.
- Daya Ram Sahni starts excavations at Harrappa for the Archaeological Survey of India.
- Georgios Sotiriou starts excavations at the church of Agios Gregorios Theologue in Thebes, Greece.
Finds
- Material unearthed by Otto Zdansky's excavations at Peking Man Site in Zhoukoudian, China which will eventually yield two human molars; but these finds will not be announced until 1926.
- Edward Thurlow Leeds discovers an early settlement site of the Anglo-Saxons at Sutton Courtenay, the first in England to be systematically excavated.
- Hjortspring boat.
- Pernik sword is discovered.
Institutions
Publications
- January - Society of Antiquaries of London begins publication of The Antiquaries Journal.
Births
- March 11 - Philip Rahtz, English archaeologist
- May 2 - B. B. Lal, Indian archaeologist
Deaths
- November 4 - Oscar Montelius, Swedish archaeologist