The British Salonika force collection at the British museum

Book section

The archaeological activities of the British Salonika Force are well-documented. Although British and French forces were subject to the same agreement, archaeological activities were divided between the British and French zones, reflecting the semi-autonomy of the two commands. Unlike their French counterparts, Lieutenant Ernest Gardner and other archaeologists serving in the British Army did not undertake systematic excavations. Gardner relied on officers with an interest in archaeology to keep him informed of finds and Anderson's report stands out because of the high standard of recording. A small number of other finds entered the British Museum collection through the donations of individual soldiers. The Karabournaki helmet was put on display and illustrated in the British Museum guide. The archaeological value of the collection was not neglected: the display of some artefacts in the British Museum and the rapid publication of the important objects and sites meant that it entered the nascent archaeological narrative of Macedonia.

Authors: Shapland, A; Stefani, E

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Routledge
• Host title: Archaeology Behind the Battle Lines: The Macedonian Campaign (1915-19) and Its Legacy
• Series: Archaeology Behind the Battle Lines: The Macedonian Campaign (1915-19) and Its Legacy
• Publication date: 2017-07-20
• DOI: 10.4324/9781315269122
• ISBN-10: 0198803729
• ISBN-13: 9781315269122
• Keywords: SBTMR