From Down House to Avebury: John Lubbock, prehistory and human evolution through the eyes of his collection

Abstract

When Sir John Lubbock died in May 1913, his estate included a seemingly eclectic assortment of prehistoric stone tools and ethnographic artefacts displayed on the walls of his home at High Elms and hidden away in storage. However, detailed analysis of the history of this collection reveals a fascinating story of a man inspired by Darwin and like-minded evolutionary thinkers, who became one of the most important intellectuals in Victorian Britain to examine the controversial subject of human evolution. Six acquisitions are used in this article to explore how Lubbock began as Darwin's friend and scientific apprentice and became an international champion for the study of prehistory and the protection of prehistoric ancient monuments.