title: 1959 in archaeology
text: # 1959 in archaeology
  
  The year 1959 in archaeology involved some significant events.
  
  ## Excavations
  
  * At Mesa Verde National Park, the Wetherill Mesa Archeological Project begins for excavation of three cliff dwellings (Long House, Mug House, and Step House), including a survey of Wetherill Mesa and excavation of selected mesa-top sites (completed in 1972).
  * Excavations begin at Amri (completed in 1962).
  * Excavations at Nonsuch Palace, Surrey, England, by Martin Biddle begin (completed in 1960).
  * Excavations at Caernarfon Mithraeum by National Museum Wales.
  * Rescue excavation of Roman villa at Cox Green, Berkshire, England.
  * Excavations at Finglesham Anglo-Saxon cemetery begin under the direction of Sonia Chadwick Hawkes (completed in 1967).
  
  ## Publications
  
  * Alan H. Gardiner - The Royal Canon of Turin.
  
  ## Finds
  
  * July 17 - Mary Leakey and Louis Leakey find Paranthropus (originally designated "Zinjanthropus") in Olduvai Gorge.
  * Arlington Springs Man is found by Phil C. Orr on Santa Rosa Island, California.
  * Ongoing excavations at Peking Man Site in Zhoukoudian, China unearth a mandible fragment.
  * Da He ding discovered at Tanheli in Hunan, China.
  
  ## Miscellaneous
  
  * International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property opens in Rome.
  
  ## Deaths
  
  * December 6 - John Winter Crowfoot, English archaeologist and educational administrator (b. 1873)
  