Wendell Phillips (archaeologist)

Wendell Phillips
Born	1921 Oakland, California, U.S.
Died	Arlington, Virginia, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Archaeologist, business magnate
Known for	Archaeological missions in Yemen and Oman; largest individual holder of petroleum rights worldwide

Wendell Phillips (1921 – December 4, 1975) was a prominent American archaeologist and business magnate who spearheaded groundbreaking archaeological missions in areas now within Yemen and Oman. During the 1950s, he discovered relics linked to the ancient Sabaʾ civilization. In the United States, Phillips became well-known for his daring character, earning the moniker "America's Lawrence of Arabia."

Following his archaeological endeavors, Phillips acquired oil concessions across Oman, Venezuela, South Korea, Indonesia, and other nations, ultimately becoming the largest individual holder of petroleum rights worldwide and accumulating a fortune valued at $120 million.

Early life and education

Born in Oakland, California in 1921, Phillips was the son of Sunshine, a gold prospector from California. Raised in modest circumstances, he took on various jobs during his youth, including serving as a guide on Treasure Island during the San Francisco World's Fair. In his early twenties, he successfully overcame polio.

Phillips earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in paleontology from the University of California at Berkeley in 1943. His academic pursuits were interrupted by his service with the United States Merchant Marine throughout World War II. While attending university, he joined fossil excavation trips across Arizona, Oregon, and Utah and maintained correspondence with archaeologist William F. Albright, who later collaborated with Phillips on his inaugural archaeological expedition.

African expedition

In the late 1940s, Phillips obtained financial backing from the University of California to lead an extensive archaeological journey throughout Africa. Although relatively inexperienced archaeologically, he utilized his persuasive leadership to coordinate a group of approximately 50 researchers and technicians equipped with trucks and an airplane. This 26-month venture stretched from Egypt down to South Africa and attracted considerable attention in the United States. Among the notable discoveries were hominid jaws and teeth excavated from South Africa’s Swartkrans site.

First Yemen expedition

In 1951, Phillips launched an expedition to the Arabian Peninsula after a 1949 meeting with Ahmad bin Yahya Hamidaddin, King of Yemen, who encouraged exploration within modern Yemen’s borders. Supported by advice from Arabist St John Philby and Charles Inge, Director of Antiquities for Aden, Phillips led a specialized team that included chief archaeologist William F. Albright. Their focus was on excavating the ancient city of Timna and Ma'rib—thought to be the capital of the Sabaʾ kingdom associated with the biblical Queen of Sheba.

Excavations at Timna uncovered layers dating back to the 8th century BCE along with artifacts such as twin bronze lions and an alabaster figurine named "Miriam." The team also investigated the Circular Moon Temple (circa 800 BCE) and a pre-Islamic site at Hajar bin Humeid featuring strata from as early as the 11th century BCE. Among their findings were ancient masonry marks providing valuable insight into local scripts; epigraphist Albert Jamme documented these discoveries in Sabaean Inscriptions From Mahram Bilqis (Marib), introduced by Phillips.

The expedition further examined the Marib Dam—then recognized as the largest ancient dam—and explored the Awwam Temple, a significant religious site of the Sabaʾ culture used for over 1,200 years prior to Islam. Detailed studies revealed its architectural phases, multiple reconstructions, inscriptions shedding light on pre-Islamic beliefs, and evidence of Hellenistic artistic influences on temple statues.

Nevertheless, tensions arose due to Bedouin raids and local distrust stemming from artifact removal and foreign presence; Phillips was briefly detained early during the mission. By early 1952, growing hostilities forced termination of the project, and since then access to this region has been restricted for archaeological research.

Additional expeditions

Throughout the 1950s and into the early 1960s, Phillips conducted several expeditions in the Middle East, concentrating primarily on the Dhofar Province. In 1960, he spearheaded an excavation of three pre-Islamic locations, revealing artifacts and inscriptions that enhanced scholarly knowledge of the area's ancient past. Ray L. Cleveland, a member of his team, observed that substantial settled habitation in Arabia developed relatively late.

Phillips’s expedition teams also microfilmed upwards of two million pages of historical manuscripts at St. Catherine's Monastery, which allowed him to compile a comprehensive Arabian historical chronology now preserved at the United States Library of Congress.

Public persona

Phillips was deliberate in shaping his public image, frequently utilizing cameras during his expeditions to create promotional photographs and films. He organized international press briefings and maintained communication with the president of the United States. Notably, he occasionally carried Colt .45 pistols and included attractive women among his expedition staff, fostering an exotic and high-profile persona while ensuring efficient expedition management.

Petroleum career

During a 1951 expedition to Yemen, Phillips impressed the Sultan of Oman with his persuasive abilities, resulting in mineral rights being granted for a modest oil-producing region. The sultan further awarded him offshore oil concessions, copper mining privileges, and fishing rights. These assets formed the foundation for his Middle East American Oil Company established in 1954. Phillips exchanged some initial concessions for more profitable mineral rights in Venezuela, Indonesia, and other locations. By 1955, he had secured oil concessions in Libya through an agreement with King Idris.

By 1975, Phillips had become the largest individual holder of oil concessions globally, with a net worth estimated at $120 million (1975 USD).

Personal details

On September 17, 1968, in Honolulu, Phillips, aged 46, married Shirley Au, then 18 years old and daughter of the supervisor at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. The marriage was short-lived and ended in divorce after three months.

Phillips passed away from heart disease on December 4, 1975, at a hospital in Arlington, Virginia. During his final years, he resided in a penthouse apartment in Waikiki, Hawaii, where he oversaw his oil business operations.

Publications

Phillips authored multiple works. His book Qataban and Sheba: Exploring the Ancient Kingdoms on the Biblical Spice Routes of Arabia was recognized among the American Library Association's 50 Best Books of 1955. In 1958, he released an autobiography titled Sheba's Buried City (Qataban and Sheba), attributing his exploratory passion to inspiration from his mother. His account of the 1958 Oman expedition is detailed in Unknown Oman.

Legacy

As of 2015, Phillips remained the only U.S. citizen honored as a Bedouin sheikh within the Bal-Harith tribe. A member of the Dutch Treat Club alongside Lowell Thomas—who dubbed him "America's Lawrence of Arabia" after T. E. Lawrence—Phillips received the Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award in 1972 and is widely regarded as a real-world model for Indiana Jones.

His sister Merilyn Phillips Hodgson administers his archaeological collection through the American Foundation for the Study of Man and resumed Yemen fieldwork under her leadership beginning in 1998 upon invitation from Yemen’s government.

From 2014 to 2015, the Smithsonian Institution’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery hosted a pioneering "multi-sensory" exhibition showcasing Phillips’s artifacts alongside film excerpts, field journals, and photographs.

Phillips’s flamboyant approach occasionally stirred debate; archaeologist Carl Lamberg-Karlovsky labeled some excavations as "looting," and certain team members criticized his emphasis on style over substance. Nevertheless, Sackler Gallery scholar Julian Raby described Phillips as an exemplar of "entrepreneurial archaeology," highlighting his adeptness at organization and fundraising that facilitated important discoveries.

The primary facility at University of the Pacific’s College of the Pacific bears his name as the Wendell Phillips Center.

External links

• American Foundation for the Study of Man
• In 2014, the BBC released a documentary highlighting Phillips and his exploration endeavors: [1].
• The University of Utah library preserves a detailed record of Phillips's oil interests, emphasizing his Korean assets.