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Wikipedia

Jan Best

April 13, 2024

Jan Gijsbert Pieter Best (born 29 August 1941, Grou) is a Dutch pre- and protohistorian, comparative linguist, archaeologist, and author. For about 30 years, he was Professor at the University of Amsterdam, where he taught ancient history, and Mediterranean prehistory and protohistory.

Jan Best

Education edit

In 1966, Best passed his graduate examinations in Classical Languages, achieving a major in Ancient History, along with minors in Greek and Latin. In 1969, he attained the doctorate with his thesis Thracian Peltasts and their Influence on Greek Warfare. Afterwards, he succeeded in his graduate examination in Archaeology, with a major in Cultural Pre- and Protohistory, and minors in Classical Archaeology and Provincial Roman Archaeology. In all of these three graduate programs, he graduated cum laude.

Experience edit

From 1962 to 1991, Best worked in the University of Amsterdam, respectively as assistant classical archaeology, associate professor ancient history and coordinator of the study Mediterranean Pre- and Protohistory.

Dyadovo edit

Best also conducted several additional projects. These include his role, from 1975 to 1979, as a co-leader of the excavation of the settlement at Dyadovo (Djadovo, bg:Дядово), which is a Dutch-Bulgarian-Japanese UNESCO project in Bulgaria. According to Best, the excavations at this site showed that, around 3200 BC, a layer with a culture of matriarchal character (many 'goddess figurines' were found) was destroyed by fire. Then, over above an undisturbed natural deposition layer 30 to 40 cm deep, a settlement of livestock-herding nomadic culture-bearers from the steppes has been identified. This created a fusion of these two peoples, as is evident in the findings from the cemetery of Varna; this may have been the genesis of the ancient Thracian culture.[1]

The Dyadovo Tell is one of the largest settlement mounds in Southeastern Europe. The excavations here started in 1977–1978. Since then, the Bulgarian and the Dutch archaeological teams continued the excavations; a Japanese team from Tokai University also participated later. The results revealed that the tell had been inhabited through most archaeological periods, including the Middle Ages, the Early Byzantine Period, the Roman Period, the Early Iron Age, the Bronze Age and the Copper Age.[2]

From 1980 until 1984, Best was professor-secretary of the International Committee of Thracology 'Wilhelm Tomaschek' with the 'Association Internationale des Études Sud-Est-Européens'[3] (Unesco-comité AIESEE).

During the eighties he was general advisor of the exhibitions 'The Gold of the Thracians' in Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam (1984) and 'The Thracian Royal Treasure' in the Nieuwe Kerk (Amsterdam) (1989).

Deciphering ancient scripts edit

Best is one of the initiators of Alverna Research Group which specialises in deciphering of so-far unknown scripts.

Along with his frequent coauthor Fred Woudhuizen (1959–2021), Best contributed to the understanding of the Linear A script, as well as of the Cretan hieroglyphs.[4]

Best also offered a reading of the Cypro-Minoan script.[5]

In 2009, after 40 years of research, he proposed a decipherment of the Byblos script. Reviews of his 2010 book Het Byblosschrift ontcijferd (The Byblos Script deciphered) were mixed.[6][7]

Author edit

In 1991 Best was co-founder and director of Najade Press, a publishing company issuing the international magazine Thamyris, Mythmaking from Past to Present. From 2001 onwards it is edited by publishing company Rodopi[8] in the new series Thamyris, Intersecting, Place, Sex and Race. Best is an author since 1992. He writes travel books for Gottmer Publishers Group. In October 2010 his book Het Byblosschrift ontcijferd (The Byblos Syllabary deciphered) appeared with publishing company Bert Bakker.

Bibliography edit

Books (selection) edit

 
Clay label of king Muwa from Mallia (sector Mu). A = front, B = back. Image from Het Byblosschrift ontcijferd - In het voetspoor van Willem Glasbergen [nl]
  • with Winfried Achterberg, Kees Enzler, Lia Rietveld, Fred Woudhuizen The Phaistos Disc: A Luwian Letter to Nestor (Harrassowitz), Wiesbaden 2011
  • Het Byblosschrift ontcijferd - In het voetspoor van Willem Glasbergen 2010 (ISBN 9789035136007)
  • Best, Jan; Woudhuizen, Fred (1988). Ancient Scripts from Crete and Cyprus. Leiden: E.J. Brill. pp. 98–131. ISBN 90-04-08431-2.
  • Terug tot Homerus: Een zoektocht naar Nestor (Heureka), Weesp 1994
  • with Flemming Kaul, Ivan Marazov, Nanny de Vries Thracian Tales on the Gundestrup Cauldron (Najade Press), Amsterdam 1991
  • with Sibylle von Reden Auf der Spur der ersten Griechen-Woher kamen die Mykener?: Neue archäologische Erkenntnisse über die Herkunft der Griechen (DuMont), Köln 1981
  • Co-writer travelbooks Bulgaria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Dordogne/Limousin, in the Dominicus-series (1991-)

Other publications (selection) edit

  • Best, Jan and De Vries, Nanny. Thracians and Mycenaeans. Boston, MA: E.J. Brill Academic Publishers, 1989. ISBN 90-04-08864-4.
  • Suruya in the Byblos Corpus, Ugarit-Forschungen 40 (2009), 135-41
  • Breaking the Code of the Byblos Script, Ugarit-Forschungen 40 (2009), 129-33
  • Reconstructing the Linear A Syllabary, Ugarit-Forschungen 38 (2006), 53-62
  • The First Inscription in Punic: Vowel Differences between Linear A and B, Ugarit-Forschungen 32: In memoriam Cyrus H. Gordon (2000)
  • The Ancient Toponyms of Mallia: A post-Eurocentric reading of Egyptianising Bronze Age documents, Black Athena: Ten Years Afters (= Talanta 28-29/1996-1997, red. Wim M.J. van Binsbergen), 99-129
  • Linguistic Evidence for a Phoenician Pillar Cult in Crete, The Journal of the Ancient Near Eastern Society 20 (1991), 7-13
  • various articles in national and international magazines in his working fields, since 1972 mainly in the fields of Thracology and decipherment of ancient scripts (1962-)

References edit

  1. ^ The ethnogenesis of the Thracians (in Dutch) www.jangpbest.nl
  2. ^ Boris D. Borisov, Dyadovo. Vol. 2. The Sanctuary of the Thracian Horseman and The Early Byzantine fortress. 2010. Varna
  3. ^ Association Internationale des Études Sud-Est-Européens is nowadays the CISH, Comité International des Sciences Historiques (International Committee of Historical Sciences)
  4. ^ Best, Jan; Woudhuizen, Fred (1988). Ancient Scripts from Crete and Cyprus. Leiden: E.J. Brill. pp. 98–131. ISBN 90-04-08431-2.
  5. ^ Best, Jan; Woudhuizen, Fred (1988). Ancient Scripts from Crete and Cyprus. Leiden: E.J. Brill. pp. 98–131. ISBN 90-04-08431-2.
  6. ^ Ugarit-Forschungen 40 (2009)
  7. ^ NWT Online 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine en Volkskrant, Frank van Kolfschooten, 29 mei 2010
  8. ^ website Rodopi

External links edit

  Media related to Jan Best at Wikimedia Commons

  • Official website
  • Jan Best - Bibliography at www.worldcat.org
  • J.G.P. Best at the Album Academicum of the University of Amsterdam

April 13, 2024
best, gijsbert, pieter, best, born, august, 1941, grou, dutch, protohistorian, comparative, linguist, archaeologist, author, about, years, professor, university, amsterdam, where, taught, ancient, history, mediterranean, prehistory, protohistory, contents, edu. Jan Gijsbert Pieter Best born 29 August 1941 Grou is a Dutch pre and protohistorian comparative linguist archaeologist and author For about 30 years he was Professor at the University of Amsterdam where he taught ancient history and Mediterranean prehistory and protohistory Jan Best Contents 1 Education 2 Experience 2 1 Dyadovo 3 Deciphering ancient scripts 4 Author 5 Bibliography 5 1 Books selection 5 2 Other publications selection 6 References 7 External linksEducation editIn 1966 Best passed his graduate examinations in Classical Languages achieving a major in Ancient History along with minors in Greek and Latin In 1969 he attained the doctorate with his thesis Thracian Peltasts and their Influence on Greek Warfare Afterwards he succeeded in his graduate examination in Archaeology with a major in Cultural Pre and Protohistory and minors in Classical Archaeology and Provincial Roman Archaeology In all of these three graduate programs he graduated cum laude Experience editFrom 1962 to 1991 Best worked in the University of Amsterdam respectively as assistant classical archaeology associate professor ancient history and coordinator of the study Mediterranean Pre and Protohistory Dyadovo edit Best also conducted several additional projects These include his role from 1975 to 1979 as a co leader of the excavation of the settlement at Dyadovo Djadovo bg Dyadovo which is a Dutch Bulgarian Japanese UNESCO project in Bulgaria According to Best the excavations at this site showed that around 3200 BC a layer with a culture of matriarchal character many goddess figurines were found was destroyed by fire Then over above an undisturbed natural deposition layer 30 to 40 cm deep a settlement of livestock herding nomadic culture bearers from the steppes has been identified This created a fusion of these two peoples as is evident in the findings from the cemetery of Varna this may have been the genesis of the ancient Thracian culture 1 The Dyadovo Tell is one of the largest settlement mounds in Southeastern Europe The excavations here started in 1977 1978 Since then the Bulgarian and the Dutch archaeological teams continued the excavations a Japanese team from Tokai University also participated later The results revealed that the tell had been inhabited through most archaeological periods including the Middle Ages the Early Byzantine Period the Roman Period the Early Iron Age the Bronze Age and the Copper Age 2 From 1980 until 1984 Best was professor secretary of the International Committee of Thracology Wilhelm Tomaschek with the Association Internationale des Etudes Sud Est Europeens 3 Unesco comite AIESEE During the eighties he was general advisor of the exhibitions The Gold of the Thracians in Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam 1984 and The Thracian Royal Treasure in the Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam 1989 Deciphering ancient scripts editBest is one of the initiators of Alverna Research Group which specialises in deciphering of so far unknown scripts Along with his frequent coauthor Fred Woudhuizen 1959 2021 Best contributed to the understanding of the Linear A script as well as of the Cretan hieroglyphs 4 Best also offered a reading of the Cypro Minoan script 5 In 2009 after 40 years of research he proposed a decipherment of the Byblos script Reviews of his 2010 book Het Byblosschrift ontcijferd The Byblos Script deciphered were mixed 6 7 Author editIn 1991 Best was co founder and director of Najade Press a publishing company issuing the international magazine Thamyris Mythmaking from Past to Present From 2001 onwards it is edited by publishing company Rodopi 8 in the new series Thamyris Intersecting Place Sex and Race Best is an author since 1992 He writes travel books for Gottmer Publishers Group In October 2010 his book Het Byblosschrift ontcijferd The Byblos Syllabary deciphered appeared with publishing company Bert Bakker Bibliography editBooks selection edit nbsp Clay label of king Muwa from Mallia sector Mu A front B back Image from Het Byblosschrift ontcijferd In het voetspoor van Willem Glasbergen nl with Winfried Achterberg Kees Enzler Lia Rietveld Fred Woudhuizen The Phaistos Disc A Luwian Letter to Nestor Harrassowitz Wiesbaden 2011 Het Byblosschrift ontcijferd In het voetspoor van Willem Glasbergen 2010 ISBN 9789035136007 Best Jan Woudhuizen Fred 1988 Ancient Scripts from Crete and Cyprus Leiden E J Brill pp 98 131 ISBN 90 04 08431 2 Terug tot Homerus Een zoektocht naar Nestor Heureka Weesp 1994 with Flemming Kaul Ivan Marazov Nanny de Vries Thracian Tales on the Gundestrup Cauldron Najade Press Amsterdam 1991 with Sibylle von Reden Auf der Spur der ersten Griechen Woher kamen die Mykener Neue archaologische Erkenntnisse uber die Herkunft der Griechen DuMont Koln 1981 Co writer travelbooks Bulgaria Sweden Norway Denmark Dordogne Limousin in the Dominicus series 1991 Other publications selection edit Best Jan and De Vries Nanny Thracians and Mycenaeans Boston MA E J Brill Academic Publishers 1989 ISBN 90 04 08864 4 Suruya in the Byblos Corpus Ugarit Forschungen 40 2009 135 41 Breaking the Code of the Byblos Script Ugarit Forschungen 40 2009 129 33 Reconstructing the Linear A Syllabary Ugarit Forschungen 38 2006 53 62 The First Inscription in Punic Vowel Differences between Linear A and B Ugarit Forschungen 32 In memoriam Cyrus H Gordon 2000 The Ancient Toponyms of Mallia A post Eurocentric reading of Egyptianising Bronze Age documents Black Athena Ten Years Afters Talanta 28 29 1996 1997 red Wim M J van Binsbergen 99 129 Linguistic Evidence for a Phoenician Pillar Cult in Crete The Journal of the Ancient Near Eastern Society 20 1991 7 13 various articles in national and international magazines in his working fields since 1972 mainly in the fields of Thracology and decipherment of ancient scripts 1962 References edit The ethnogenesis of the Thracians in Dutch www jangpbest nl Boris D Borisov Dyadovo Vol 2 The Sanctuary of the Thracian Horseman and The Early Byzantine fortress 2010 Varna Association Internationale des Etudes Sud Est Europeens is nowadays the CISH Comite International des Sciences Historiques International Committee of Historical Sciences Best Jan Woudhuizen Fred 1988 Ancient Scripts from Crete and Cyprus Leiden E J Brill pp 98 131 ISBN 90 04 08431 2 Best Jan Woudhuizen Fred 1988 Ancient Scripts from Crete and Cyprus Leiden E J Brill pp 98 131 ISBN 90 04 08431 2 Ugarit Forschungen 40 2009 NWT Online Archived 2011 07 24 at the Wayback Machine en Volkskrant Frank van Kolfschooten 29 mei 2010 website RodopiExternal links edit nbsp Media related to Jan Best at Wikimedia Commons Official website Jan Best Bibliography at www worldcat org J G P Best at the Album Academicum of the University of Amsterdam Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jan Best amp oldid 1214579320, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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