Born: 1892 (Berlin, Germany)
Died: 1975
Elise Jenny Baumgartel (née Goldschmidt, 5 October 1892 – 28 October 1975) was a German Egyptologist and prehistorian who pioneered the study of the archaeology of predynastic Egypt.
Early Career:
Elise Jenny Goldschmidt was born in Berlin on 5 October 1892. Her father was Rudolf Goldschmidt. Initially, she enrolled at the University of Berlin with the intention to study medicine. However, her interest in Egyptology began to grow, and she became captivated by the subject. Under the guidance of renowned Egyptologists Adolf Erman and Kurt Heinrich Sethe, she delved into the world of Egyptology and acquired a strong foundation in the field.
Dissatisfied with the prevailing text-dominated approach to Egyptology at the time, Baumgartel decided to focus her doctoral studies on archaeology. She attended the University of Königsberg, where she proposed a groundbreaking idea that would shape her future research. Baumgartel argued that understanding Egypt’s neglected prehistoric period required placing it in its wider regional context. Her thesis analyzed funerary traditions in Neolithic North Africa, contending that North African dolmen graves served as precursors to early Egyptian mastabas and ultimately the pyramids themselves. This challenged the prevailing hyper-diffusionist views of Grafton Elliot Smith, who argued that almost all elements of human culture originated in Egypt and spread outward.
Career Contributions:
Baumgartel’s dedication and expertise led her to catalog the extensive collections of lithic artifacts in Berlin’s museums. Following the completion of her doctorate in 1927, she received a scholarship to study with French lithicist Henri Breuil in Paris. For the next six years, she was sponsored by the Notgemeinschaft der Deutschen Wissenschaft to conduct research on the lithic chronology of the southern Mediterranean. During this time, she participated in excavations at Wadi Sheik in Egypt and Monte Gargano in Italy, and she explored ancient and modern flint mines across Europe.
Challenges and Legacy:
In 1933, when the Nazi Party seized power in Germany, Baumgartel, who was Jewish, lost her state funding. The following year, she was forced to flee to England, leaving behind her family, which included three children from her previous marriage to art historian Hubert Baumgartel. For several years, they relied on refugee charities for support. However, her colleagues and the archaeological and Egyptological communities in England rallied to assist her. Sir John L. Myres helped secure a grant for her to compile a bibliography of prehistoric Italy and Malta. Additionally, she taught evening classes on the Egyptian language at University College London (UCL).
In 1936, Baumgartel approached Stephen Glanville, the head of UCL’s Egyptology department, for permission to work with the department’s collections, which would become known as the Petrie Museum. The museum had recently acquired the extensive and poorly labeled personal collection of Sir Flinders Petrie. Glanville enthusiastically accepted Baumgartel’s offer, recognizing the value she could bring to cataloging and studying the collection. Her work with the Petrie collection was supported by its patron, Sir Robert Mond.
Baumgartel’s meticulous cataloging and analysis of the Petrie collection made significant contributions to our understanding of ancient Egyptian culture. Her expertise in predynastic Egypt set the foundation for further research in the field. Baumgartel’s tireless dedication even in the face of adversity has left a lasting legacy in the realm of Egyptology and archaeology.