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L

Leonard Woolley

Historical Figure

Sir Leonard Woolley was a British archaeologist known for his excavations at Ur (1922-1934), sponsored by the British Museum and Penn Museum, where he found evidence of a major flood. He collaborated with T.E. Lawrence at Carchemish and later worked for British Intelligence during WWII, where he interacted with Anthony Blunt and Kim Philby. His work at Ur greatly advanced knowledge of ancient Mesopotamian civilization.

archaeologist whose excavations at Ur uncovered physical evidence of a major flood event

Public Discourse

How this subject is discussed publicly

Documented public claims — sourced and attributed — with responses where available. The reader evaluates.

Mixed reception

Woolley interpreted the thick sterile silt layer at Ur as physical evidence of the Great Flood from the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible.

Source: archaeologist findings cited in the research summary; Woolley's own excavation reports from the 1920s

Quick Facts

Affiliations

Institutional Connections

affiliated
British Museum

Archaeological work at Carchemish before and after WWI and joint excavation partnership at Ur (1922-1934).

affiliated
University of Oxford

Joint excavation partnership at Ur.

1922–1934
affiliated
Yale University

Worked on excavations at the University Museum in Nubia.

1910–1911