Renowned archaeologist, historian and educator John Miksic dies at 79

He conducted S’pore’s first archaeological test excavation at Fort Canning in 1984

- Gabrielle Andres Correspondent

Renowned archaeologist John Miksic, who was the first to conduct an archaeological dig in Singapore in 1984, died of pneumonia on Oct 25 at the age of 79.

His wife Goh Geok Yian, an associate professor of history at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), said he had been battling melanoma, a type of skin cancer, for the past four years.

The couple have no children, but a cat that Dr Miksic loved.

Dr Miksic is survived by two children from his first marriage - Mr Ezra Miksic and Ms Vonya Miksic Eisinger — as well as four grandchildren: Geneva Eisinger, Vienna Eisinger, Elyana Miksic and Seona Miksic. He also has a brother, Mr Stephen Miksic.

Dr Miksic was emeritus professor of Southeast Asian studies at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and a senior research fellow at NTU.

He was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2023 for his contributions to Singapore.

His fields of research included archaeology, anthropology, historical studies, geology and geophysics.

Dr Goh, who married Dr Miksic in 2018, said her husband loved his work and continued working “even when he was having difficulty writing”.

She added that Dr Miksic also wanted to continue talking to his students despite his illness.

“He was devoted and committed to being an archaeologist and being a scholar,’ she said. “I want him to be remembered for what he loved the most.”

His love for archaeology was nurtured during his growing-up years on a farm in the United States, where his grandfather would often find arrowheads of the Native American Iroquois.