Obituary of Peter Shinnie

Peter passed away peacefully on Monday, July 9, 2007 after a brief illness in his 93rd year. A distinguished and much honored Africanist archaeologist and educator, he made major contributions to the archaeology and history of Sudan and Ghana. In Sudan, introducing modern methods of fieldwork, he defined the civilization of Meroë and revealed the archaeology of Christian Nubia. In Ghana he carried out field research on the southern fringes of Islam and the origins of the Ashanti kingdom. He was successively head of the departments of archaeology at the Universities of Ghana, Khartoum and Calgary and responsible for the training of a generation of African scholars. His was a life of exemplary, passionate and humane commitment to Africa and Africans, and to his relatives and friends. Predeceased by his son Nicholas, he is survived by his wife Ama, children Caroline (Henderson) and Paul, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Friends and colleagues who so desire may donate to a scholarship in Peter’s memory that will assist African students of archaeology. Cheques made out to the University of Calgary should be sent to the Development Office (Student Awards), University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada T2N 1N4, with the notation “Shinnie Fund” on the reverse. A Celebration of Peter’s Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Chapel of the Bells (2720 Centre Street North) on Monday, July 16, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Peter Shinnie, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH Telephone: (403) 276-2296.