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A Leslie Armstrong

Also known as: A Leslie Armstrong; primary name: Armstrong, A Leslie; full name: Armstrong, Albert Leslie
Details: individual; archaeologist; British; Male
Life dates: 1878-3 December 1958
Biography: Albert Leslie Armstrong preferred to be known as 'Leslie'. Born in Harrogate, Yorkshire, his father was a printer and publisher but Leslie trained as a quantity surveyor and worked in an architect's office, as well as teaching at a municipal technical school (1911 census). In 1914, he joined the army and became a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, serving until 1922. After the war he joined the Inland Revenue but gave all his free time to archaeology, becoming a leading light in local archaeological societies and eventually a lecturer in the Extra-Mural Department of Sheffield University. Despite his lack of formal education, his technical drawing and surveying skills were a great asset for excavations including rescue work at Sheffield Castle. having made his name in Yorkshire and the Trent and Peak Districts, he was the obvious locally based choice to direct the excavations at Creswell Crags on behalf of the Research Committee for the Excavation of Derbyshire Caves formed by the British Association and the Royal Anthropological Institute from 1925 to 1929. The excavations made his name in the academic community and with the public through frequent newspaper articles describing his finds. His lack of academic training often brought criticism particularly of his interpretation of finds. Professor William Boyd Dawkins and Dr Wilfred Jackson from Manchester were quick to dismiss his identification of engravings at Mother Grundy's Parlour and, although generally accepted as genuine, some authors were cautious in accepting the engraved drawing of the male figure from Pin Hole. The 'discovery' of what is now regarded as a fake chalk female figure during his excavations at Grimes Graves flint mines overshadowed his achievements. The figure may have been planted to dupe and make a laughing stock of him because he thought the flint mines might have come into use as back as the Palaeolithic. As well as excavations in Britain, Armstrong also excavated Bambata cave in Zimbabwe. He was a founder member of the Hunter Archaeological Society and the Speaeological Society and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and a generous patron of several museums.

1,060 related objects

animal remains

Museum number: 1959,0712,B.1018 |
Cultures/periods: x14337 Neolithic |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Grimes Graves

animal remains

Museum number: 1937,0712.204 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Crosby Warren

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.49 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 1959,0712,A.1755 |
Cultures/periods: x14387 Palaeolithic |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Bambata Cave

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.92 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.166 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Barmston

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.87 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.32 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.11 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Chigwidden

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.164 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Winterbourne Bassett

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.132 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.17 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.45 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.44 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.63 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Hardwick Hill

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.43 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.53 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Robin Hood Cave

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.158 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:East Hoathly

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.171 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Skipsea Bail MereFound/Acquired:Skipsea Low Mere

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.177 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Alderton

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.56 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Upwey (England)

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.39 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.81 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Risby Warren

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.74 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Bagmoor Farm

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.174 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:East Riding of Yorkshire

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.40 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.38 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.20 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.120 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.124 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.100 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.98 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.134 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:North Lincolnshire

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.30 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.160 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:North Stoke (Sussex)

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.148 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Santon Warren

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.36 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.26 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.111 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.162 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Sussex

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.83 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Risby Warren

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.129 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.151 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Wangford

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.64 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:North Kelsey Moor

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.4 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Ightham

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.29 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.22 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.142 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Brandon (parish - Suffolk)

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.28 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.125 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.109 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.117 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.123 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.156 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Alfriston

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.1 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Chatham

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.114 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.88 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.25 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.84 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Risby Warren

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.77 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Risby Warren

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.12 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:St Buryan

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.13 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Cornwall

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.5 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Ferriby

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.31 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.41 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.122 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.24 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.116 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.175 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Shore

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.93 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.78 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Risby Warren

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.107 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.161 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Parham (Sussex)

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.144 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Lakenheath Warren

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.155 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Wangford

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.65 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:West Keal

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.60 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Sudeley Manor

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.113 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.21 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mother Grundy's Parlour

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.130 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.89 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.147 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mildenhall (Suffolk)

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.3 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Northfleet

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.121 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.97 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.112 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.153 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Wangford

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.85 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Risby Warren

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.79 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Risby Warren

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.128 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Scunthorpe

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.141 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Beeston Tor

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.71 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Willoughton

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.135 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Cranwich

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.69 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Willoughton

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.137 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Grimes Graves

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.67 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Willoughton

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.167 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Bewholme

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.8 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:West Tofts

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.169 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Skipsea Bail MereFound/Acquired:Skipsea Low Mere

artefact

Museum number: 2011,8050.73 |
Cultures/periods: Upper PalaeolithicMesolithic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Willoughton