Astley Hilary Goodwin, first professional archaeologist in SA, is born

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Prof. Astley John Hilary Goodwin was born in Natal (now Kwazulu Natal). He went to study at St. John’s College in Johannesburg and became the first professionally trained archaeologist to be appointed in 1923. He went on to teach the first archaeology course and head the department at the University of Cape Town. Goodwin made a great contribution to the discipline of archaeology including developing the standard terminology of South African archaeology. He founded the South African Archaeological Society and wrote books like The stone age cultures of South Africa and Method in prehistory. He died on 5 December 1959.

Search events by date

What happened on your birthday?

How we know this

01ASAPA (2011). ‘History of archaeology’ from The Association of Southern African Professional Archaeologists [online]. Available at www.asapa.org.za[Accessed 23 November 2011]
02Van der Poel, J., (2007).”Biographical Notes: Goodwin” in Selections from the Smuts papers vol. vii 1945 ”“ October 1950. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. p. 397

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, December 14). Astley Hilary Goodwin, first professional archaeologist in SA, is born. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0071368

South African History Online (2011) 'Astley Hilary Goodwin, first professional archaeologist in SA, is born', South African History Online, 14 December. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0071368 (Accessed: 21 July 2026).

South African History Online, Astley Hilary Goodwin, first professional archaeologist in SA, is born [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0071368, (accessed 21 July 2026).

"Astley Hilary Goodwin, first professional archaeologist in SA, is born." South African History Online, 14 Dec. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0071368. Accessed 21 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Astley Hilary Goodwin, first professional archaeologist in SA, is born." South African History Online. December 14, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0071368.