Glyn Edmund Daniel (23 April 1914–13 December 1986) was a Welsh scientist and archaeologist whose academic career at Cambridge University specialised in the European Neolithic period. He edited the academic journal Antiquity from 1958–1985. In addition to early efforts to popularise archaeological study and antiquity on radio and television, he edited several popular studies of the fields. He also published mysteries under the pseudonym Dilwyn Rees.
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Daniel was born in Lampeter Velfrey, Pembrokeshire, a small village between Narbeth and Whitland, in south west Wales, where his father, John Daniel, was the village schoolmaster[1]. When Glyn Daniel was five he moved with his parents to Llantwit Major in the Vale of Glamorgan[2]. He attended Barry County School for Boys, Barry where his academic ability led to him being awarded a State Scholarship (which he enabled him to go to the University of Cambridge) and a Glamorgan County Scholarship in 1931[3]. The Glamorgan County Scholarship allowed Glyn Daniel to study geology, and the church organ, at Cardiff University for a year[4]. In 1932 he went up to St John's College, Cambridge, where he remained for the rest of his academic career, to read archaeology and anthropology, and graduated with a first-class honours degree with distinction[5].
During the Second World War, Daniel applied his talents at interpreting archaeological sites through aerial photography by working for the RAF's air photo unit. He analysed and examined photos of enemy territory.
After the war Daniel returned to Cambridge to resume his academic life. He became Disney Professor of Archaeology in 1974. From 1958–1985, he was editor of the academic journal Antiquity. His main subject of study was Neolithic chamber tombs, although he also wrote books on the history of archaeology and archaeological thought.
Daniel appeared on television. He was a host, often with Sir Mortimer Wheeler as a guest, on the game show Animal, Vegetable, Mineral?.[6] He edited numerous popular studies of archaeological sites and cultures.
The McDonald Institute, University of Cambridge, have named the Glyn Daniel Laboratory for Archaeogenetics in his memory.
Daniel wrote detective fiction under the pseudonym Dilwyn Rees. His novels The Cambridge Murders (1945) (later (1965) published by Penguin under his own name) and Welcome Death (originally published under his own name in 1954) feature Sir Richard Cherrington, an eminent but slightly eccentric archaeologist who is the Vice-President of Fisher College – a character based on the author.[7]
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Grahame Clark |
Disney Professor of Archaeology, Cambridge University 1974–1981 |
Succeeded by Colin Renfrew |