Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) brought revolutionary change to the study of antiquity by introducing strict excavation protocols and detailed documentation practices. He started his career at the age of nineteen by surveying Stonehenge and producing its first reliable site plan. The Egypt Exploration Fund employed him in 1880 to conduct excavations at Tanis, Naukratis, and Amarna. Through his excavations, Petrie discovered critical archaeological findings that included the Merpentan Stele, which displays the first recorded use of the term “Israel” beyond biblical texts. His studies enhanced biblical archaeology by unveiling important aspects of the Semitic populations of ancient times. He carried out archaeological studies in locations beset by severe medical threats such as cholera, dysentery, and malaria, unfortunately commonplace in Egypt and Palestine during his extensive work period. His archaeological investigations in Egypt and Palestine established essential groundwork for future archaeological studies and garnered him worldwide recognition.

Born in Charlton, England, in 1853, Petrie grew up in a stimulating environment that emphasized scientific investigation. He developed an interest in measurement, closely tied to mathematics, and this eventually shaped his nascent archaeological techniques. The field of excavation during that period often involved looting artifacts for museums or private collections, yet Petrie pursued the establishment of scientific observation-based archaeological methods instead of treasure hunting. Through his approach to archaeological chronology, he enabled scholars to accurately ascertain relative dating for ancient sites. Too, reports from his expeditions showed how workers developed ophthalmia, parasitic diseases, and nutritional deficiencies, so he established basic medical care and hygiene standards for excavation sites.

The controversial aspect of Petrie’s legacy stems from his involvement in physical anthropology and racial theory. During the Victorian era, scientists used skull measurements together with bodily proportions to establish scientific classifications of human populations. Through his work with craniometry, Petrie studied skeletal remains to demonstrate that skull shapes distinguished different races and cultures. These ideas, although incorrect, formed part of the scientific movement that connected archaeology with biological sciences in their early development. Through skeletal analysis, however, researchers discovered information about ancient diseases, as well as nutritional patterns and physical growth, which demonstrated the presence of arthritis, dental problems, and skeletal abnormalities in ancient populations.

Petrie lived to the age of 89. He chose to live in Jerusalem, where he devoted himself to scholarship despite his withdrawal from public life. He died in 1942 during World War II. His final request for a posthumous scientific examination of his skull demonstrates his enduring fascination with physical anthropology. The Royal College of Surgeons in London received his skull, but because of wartime disruptions, it took many years to study it. His work in archaeology created an enduring impact on the field that extends beyond measure. Through his commitment to artifact treatment and excavation techniques, he established archaeology as a scholarly field instead of an activity for adventurers, and his research remains a basis of modern archaeological methodology.