John George Taylor was an archaeologist, son of Captain [later Colonel] R. Taylor, who was the Assistant Political Agent in Basra from 1818-1822. John Taylor was appointed the Hon. East India Company's Agent and H.M. Vice-Consul at Basra from 8 August… read more
John George Taylor was an archaeologist, son of Captain [later Colonel] R. Taylor, who was the Assistant Political Agent in Basra from 1818-1822. John Taylor was appointed the Hon. East India Company's Agent and H.M. Vice-Consul at Basra from 8 August 1851 to 30 September 1858, and from 1859 H.M. Consul-General for Kurdistan at Diyarbekir and Erzerum. He excavated at Ur (1854) as a direct result of an earlier visit by William Kennett Loftus (q.v.), and at Abu Shahrain and Tell al-Lahm (1855). He must also have returned to Ur in 1858.
In 1861 he recovered stelae of Ashurnasirpal II and Shalmaneser III at Kurkh near Diyarbekir, and he was commissioned to excavate in this region on behalf of the British Museum.
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