Henry Wace

Alan John Bayard Wace (1879–1957) was an English archaeologist educated at Shrewsbury School and Cambridge University, where he developed interests in classical sculpture and anthropology. He began his archaeological career with the British School at Athens (BSA) in 1902, later moving to the British School at Rome. Wace participated in excavations in Greece, including Sparta and Laconia, and conducted extensive surveys in Thessaly.

He returned to the BSA as director in 1914, but his work was interrupted by World War I, during which he engaged in British intelligence. Alongside Carl Blegen, he excavated at Korakou, leading to their "Helladic Heresy" theory on the continuity of mainland Greek culture, challenging the dominance of Minoan Crete. Wace continued excavations at Mycenae in the 1920s, confirming his theories. After leaving the BSA in 1923, he worked at the Victoria and Albert Museum before returning to Cambridge as a professor. During World War II, he again served British intelligence in various locations. Post-war, he held a position at Alexandria's Farouk I University, continuing his excavations at Mycenae and searching for Alexander the Great's tomb until his dismissal following the 1952 Egyptian revolution. He remained active in research until his death.

Alan Wace's early academic pursuits focused on Ancient Greek sculpture and modern Greek anthropology. His initial involvement with the British School at Athens (BSA) led to excavations in regions like Thessaly and Laconia. A significant development in his career was his directorship of the BSA from 1914. During World War I, his archaeological work was paused, and he contributed to British intelligence. It was during this period, working with Carl Blegen at Korakou, that they formulated the "Helladic Heresy." This theory posited a strong continuity of mainland Greek ("Helladic") culture throughout the Aegean Bronze Age, directly challenging the prevailing view that Minoan Crete held primary cultural dominance. Wace's later excavations at Mycenae in the early 1920s provided evidence supporting this controversial idea, particularly concerning the chronology of the site's tholos tombs.

Following his tenure as director of the BSA, Wace spent a decade as a curator of textiles at the Victoria and Albert Museum. He later returned to academia at Cambridge as the Laurence Professor of Classical Archaeology. His involvement with intelligence services resurfaced during World War II, where he held a leadership role with MI6 in key Mediterranean and North African cities. After retiring from Cambridge, Wace accepted a position at Alexandria's Farouk I University. During this time, he continued his archaeological fieldwork at Mycenae and undertook an unsuccessful search for the tomb of Alexander the Great. His academic activities were cut short by the 1952 Egyptian revolution, leading to his dismissal from the university, though he persisted with his research and publications until his death in 1957.