Macintosh, Neil William George (Mac) (1906 - 1977)

Summary

Neil Macintosh was an anatomist and anthropologist whose research focused on the antiquity, migrations and place in human history of the indigenous people of Australia. Working on osteology, blood groups, fingerprints, forensic medicine and several other fields, he made important contributions to the study of variations in Aboriginal culture and migratory arrivals over time. In his extensive examination of significant ancient bones and artefacts he discovered or documented several of major significance. Macintosh was noted for his extensive and tenacious fieldtrips. He established the geological context of the fossilised Talgai skill, discovered in 1886, and used modern techniques to date it to c.14,000 years. At Lake Nitchie, New South Wales, he examined burial remains that indicated the practice of burial rites. Later research on the dingo showed the modern animal to be morphologically unchanged for 3,000 years. As consultant to the Criminal Investigation Branch of the New South Wales Police he was involved in the investigation of a number of bizarre murders.

Details

Chronology

1933

Education - MB BS, University of Sydney

1934 - 1935

Career position - Neurosurgical Registrar, Lewisham Hospital, Sydney

1936 - 1937

Career position - Medical Superintendent, Lewisham Hospital, Sydney

1939 - 1942

Career position - Active service with the Royal Australian Naval Reserve

1943 - 1945

Career position - Demonstrator, Department of Anatomy, University of Sydney

1945 - 1947

Career position - Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, University of Sydney

1948 - 1949

Career position - Senior Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, University of Sydney

1950

Education - Diploma in Anthropology, University of Sydney

1950 - 1955

Career position - Reader, Department of Anatomy, University of Sydney

1951

Career position - President, Anthropological Society of New South Wales

1955 - 1973

Career position - Challis Professor of Anatomy, University of Sydney

1961 - 1977

Career position - Member, Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies

1963

Career position - Foundation Member and President, Anatomical Society of Australia and New Zealand

1966 - 1974

Career position - Chairman, Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies

1966 - 1977

Career position - Associate Editor, Archaeology and Physical Anthropology in Oceania

1967 - 1973

Career position - Chairman, Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies

1970

Award - Anthropos Medal, Moravian Museum, Brno, Czechoslovakia

1970

Award - Hrdlicka Medal, City of Humpolec, Czechoslovakia

1971

Award - Honorary Fellow, Royal Australian College of Dental Surgeons

1971

Career position - Life Member, Anatomical Society of Australia and New Zealand

1972

Award - Honorary Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

1973

Life event - Retired

Related entries

Published resources

Book Sections

• Stone, Jonathan, 'Macintosh, Neil William George (1906-1977), Professor of Anatomy and Anthropology' in Australian Dictionary of Biography, John Ritchie, ed., vol. 15 (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2000), pp. 228-230. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150269b.htm. Details

Journal Articles

• Elkin, A. P., 'N. W. G. Macintosh and his work', Archaeology and Physical Anthropology in Oceania, 13 (2/3) (1978), 85-142. Details
• Howells, W. W., 'Obituary: Neil William George Macintosh, 1906 - 1977', Archaeology and Physical Anthropology in Oceania, 14 (1) (1979), 78-80. Details
• Lowenthal, John, 'N. W. G. Macintosh', Medical Journal of Australia, 1979 (2) (1979), 138-9. Details

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q24045435. Details
• VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/7329156811384545390008. Details
• 'Macintosh, N W G (19061227-19771127)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1306486. Details