Hermann Parzinger elected member of the American Philosophical Society
Press release from 06/26/2013
Hermann Parzinger, President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, is a new member of the American Philosophical Society. Founded in 1743, the American Philosophical Society promotes research in numerous disciplines in the humanities and natural sciences.
Hermann Parzinger says: "As a non-American citizen, it is a great honour to be a member of the oldest learned society in the USA."
In addition to its American members, the American Philosophical Society elects eight international members each year. The society justifies Parzinger's election with his achievements as a prehistorian and archaeologist. It particularly emphasises the collaboration he initiated with Russian archaeologists and his extensive publishing activities. The society also recognises Parzinger's outstanding work as a cultural manager.
The American Philosophical Society was founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin. Its declared purpose is "to promote useful knowledge". It supports research activities through lectures, publications, exhibitions and the awarding of prizes and scholarships. It also maintains a comprehensive research library. It offers academics and leaders a forum for the free exchange of ideas. Charles Darwin, Alexander von Humboldt, Albert Einstein and Marie Curie were among the members of the American Philosophical Society.
Hermann Parzinger has been President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, one of the world's largest cultural institutions, since March 2008. After studying prehistory and early history, medieval history and provincial Roman archaeology, followed by a doctorate and habilitation, he became the second director of the Roman-Germanic Commission of the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) in Frankfurt/Main in 1990 and the first director of the DAI's Eurasia Department in Berlin in 1995. From 2003 to 2008, Parzinger was President of the German Archaeological Institute. Hermann Parzinger led numerous excavations in Spain, Turkey, Iran, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tadzhikistan and Mongolia. The discovery of a Scythian princely tomb with almost 6,000 gold artefacts and the discovery of the ice mummy of a Scythian warrior made him famous beyond the specialist world.
Hermann Parzinger is a scientist who has received many honours. In 1998, he was the first archaeologist to receive the Leibniz Prize from the German Research Foundation. In 2011, at the suggestion of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, he received the Reuchlin Prize for special services to the humanities. In autumn 2013, he will be awarded the "Sibylle Kalkhof-Rose Academy Prize for the Humanities" by the Academy of Sciences and Literature in Mainz. In 2009, he was honoured with the Russian "Order of Friendship" for his achievements, and in 2012 he received the Grand Cross of Merit with Star of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Parzinger is also a member of the Order Pour le mérite for Sciences and Arts. He is also a member of academies in Russia, China, Spain, Great Britain, Romania, the USA and Germany, including the British Academy, the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina - National Academy of Sciences and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.