UNESCO Second Canadian Archaeological Expedition to Carthage Records

Collection

Call Number: MS210

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Scope and Contents

This collection contains archaeological records, reports, field journals, small find reports, excavation site images, maps, tracings of mosaics and drawings from the UNESCO Second Canadian Archaeological Expedition to Carthage, led by Colin Wells. The records primarily cover the dig on section 2CC on the Northern Sector Theodosian Wall from of 1976 and 1986.

Dates

Creation: Majority of material found within 1978 -- 2002
Creation: 1905 -- 2008

Creator

Wells, C. M. (Colin Michael) (Person)

Language of Materials

English

French

Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Some material in this collection may be protected by copyright and other rights. Please see “Reproductions and Use” on the Digital Collections and Archives website for more information about reproductions and permission to publish. Any intellectual property rights that the donor possesses have been transferred to Tufts University.

Biographical / Historical

Colin Michael Wells was born on November 15, 1933 in West Bridgford, Notts, England. He attended Oriel College, Oxford from 1952 to 1954 before joining the Royal Artillery stationed in Egypt and Germany. Following his military service, he received his BA in 1958 from Oriel College, Oxford. In 1960, Wells accepted a position teaching at the University of Ottawa. He earned his doctorate in 1965 under the tutelage of Professor Ian Richmond.

Beginning in 1976, Wells led a team of researchers in excavations at Carthage. The initial excavations were part of an UNESCO campaign entitled “Save Carthage.” The excavations focused on the Theodosian Wall and continued through 1986. In 1987, Wells went to Trinity University as the first Murchison Distinguished Professor of Classical Studies. In this role, he continued excavations at Carthage using the Odeon Hill site as an educational opportunity for Trinity students through 2002.

In addition to his archaeological work, Wells was a scholar of Roman frontiers and military under Augustus. He wrote and edited four books and over 120 articles examining the Roman frontier and army, Roman Africa, and changes in the empire under Augustan military activity.

Wells retired from Trinity University in 2004 after serving as chair of the classical studies department and as a member of several university committees. He was given the title of professor emeritus.

Wells married Kate Hughes in 1960. They had two sons, Christopher and Dominic. Wells passed away on March 11, 2010 at Banger in North Wales.

Extent

26.55 Linear Feet

1424 Digital Object(s)

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is organized into six series: Records and Reports from the Carthage digs; Field journals; Fiche reports; Excavation site images; Carthage site maps; and Carthage site drawings.

Custodial History

This collection was donated to DCA in February 2014 by Kate Wells, widow of C.M. (Colin Michael) Wells. From 1976 to 1986 C.M. Wells was director of the UNESCO Second Canadian Archaeological Expedition to Carthage in modern Tunisia. C.M. Wells died in March 2010 before completing a final report on the excavations, and the Wells family asked R. Bruce Hitchner, Professor of Classics and International Relations at Tufts, to continue the project. At Hitchner's request, the collection was transferred from Kate Wells to DCA to enable his research.