Paul Reinecke

Paul Heinrich Adalbert Reinecke (September 25, 1872 – May 12, 1958) was a German prehistorian and archaeologist.

Life and work
Reinecke was born in Berlin. He studied medicine and science under Rudolf Virchow (1821–1903). Interested in prehistory, he also attended classes with the anthropologist Johannes Ranke (1836-1916) and the archaeologist Adolf Furtwängler (1853-1907). During his studies, in 1893, Reinecke led an extensive study trip through Austria and Hungary.

After graduating in 1897, he worked until 1908 at the Romano-Germanic Central Museum (Mainz), and later at the Bavarian State Office for Monument Protection (Die Kunstdenkmäler von Bayern).

Until his death in 1958, he worked on almost all periods of European prehistory and early history, in particular on the chronology of the European Bronze Age and Iron Age. The names Michelsberg culture (1908) and the Altheim culture (1915) as well as the periodization of the Hallstatt culture go back to him. Particularly important are his contributions in Volume V of the "Antiquities of our pagan past" (Alterthümer unserer heidnischen Vorzeit), where he developed, a chronology system, based on an historical analysis of stylistic features and on typological characteristics, that has essentially retained its validity to this day. Reinecke died in Herrsching, Bavaria.

Awards
1942: Goethe Medal for Art and Science
1953: Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Großes Verdienstkreuz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland).

Category:1872 births
Category:1958 deaths
Category:Scientists from Berlin
Category:German archaeologists