Gerhard Bersu

Gerhard Bersu (26 September 1889 – 19 November 1964) was a German archaeologist who excavated widely across Europe.

He was born in Jauer in Silesia and as a teenager joined excavations near Potsdam. In successive years Bersu dug in several European countries and during the First World War he worked for the Office for the Protection of Monuments and Collections on the Western Front. After the war he was attached to the German Armistice and Peace delegations.

In 1924 he began working with the German Archaeological Institute in Frankfurt-am-Main, becoming its director in 1931 and contributed to it becoming one of the world's leading archaeological organizations. In 1935 however he was forced out of his post as a director by the Nazis and was charged with a lower position at the German Archaeological Institute (DAI). After he had to retire against his will in 1937 he emigrated to Britain with his wife, Maria.

At the invitation of the Prehistoric Society he conducted excavations at Little Woodbury in Wiltshire, introducing novel continental methods, in 1938 and 1939. When war broke out, Bersu as a German national was interned on the Isle of Man. He was permitted to continue his work however and carried out several excavations on the island with the help of other internees.

When the war ended Bersu was offered the Chair of the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin and remained there until 1947 when he returned to Germany. Taking up his former post at the Institute he continued his work until retiring in 1956.

Bersu excavated at the settlement of Green Craig, Creich, Fife in 1947. More information including plans, is available on the RCAHMS Canmore website.

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