František Xaver Franc

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Measurement of three barrows in Šťáhlavy-Hájek with images of the finds, by FX Franc, 1888

František Xaver Franc (born December 3, 1838 in Hostivice , † January 20, 1910 ) was a Bohemian gardener and amateur archaeologist .

Franc began an apprenticeship as a gardener. In 1871 he was employed by Count Ernst Karl von Waldstein as a creative gardener at Kozel Castle . On the occasion of Waldstein, he carried out archaeological excavations in the vicinity of the castle from 1878 . Between 1878 and 1896 he researched around 400 barrows and three settlement sites. In 1893 he was appointed secretary of the City History Museum in Pilsen , where he was the curator of the historical collections. In 1904 he retired.

Although Franz had no historical education and no experience in this field, he acquired remarkable technical knowledge. In all his excavations he carried out a very progressive survey of the archaeological findings for his time. He also documented the finds with precise drawings. His attention was also directed to the medieval sites that were still of no interest to the archaeological experts at the time. His work was only published 78 years after his death. His best-known sites that counts barrow cemetery Šťáhlavy -Hájek.

Fonts

  • František Xaver Franz: Šťáhlau excavations in 1890. Přehled nalezišť v oblasti Mže, Radbuzy, Úhlavy a Klabavy 1906. 2 volumes. Archeologický ústav ČSAV, Prague 1988.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Franc, František Xaver
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Bohemian gardener and amateur archaeologist
DATE OF BIRTH December 3, 1838
PLACE OF BIRTH Hostivice
DATE OF DEATH January 20, 1910