Albert Egges van Giffen

Albert Egges van Giffen (1884–1973) stands as a foundational figure in Dutch archaeology, renowned both for his systematic fieldwork and his influential tenure in academia. Holding professorships in Prehistory and Germanic archaeology at the Universities of Groningen and Amsterdam, Van Giffen dedicated the majority of his career to studying the Northern provinces of the Netherlands, specializing particularly in the monumental architecture of the region, namely hunebeds and tumuli.

While Van Giffen’s primary discipline was excavation and analysis, he recognized the crucial, often pioneering, role of visual documentation in cementing scholarly findings. The collection of photographs attributed to him, actively produced around 1928, transcends simple field records; they are technically precise, high-quality prints providing invaluable visual context to early 20th-century archaeological practice.

His photographic oeuvre, comprising approximately fifteen works held in major collections such as the Rijksmuseum, illustrates the complex methodology of early research digs. These images, often starkly composed, provide detailed excavation views, including the crucial study Archeologische opgravingen bij een terp, Tószeg and a notable series dedicated to fieldwork in Hungary. The subject matter is unembellished, focusing on the geometric precision of the excavation pits, reflecting the nearly military rigor Van Giffen demanded of his field teams.

It is this rigorous, functional quality that elevates his photographs to enduring museum-quality documents. They capture the transient moments of discovery, ensuring the scientific record is preserved before the site is inevitably refilled. His technical documentation serves as a critical bridge between the ephemeral nature of excavation and the permanent necessity of the archive. These important historical documents, illustrating a pivotal era in prehistoric research, are widely utilized today. Many of the Van Giffen prints have entered the public domain, ensuring that this visual record remains available for study and use as downloadable artwork worldwide.