Zdenek Vasicek Czech archaeologist and dissident. Date of Birth: 20.05.1933 Country: Czech

1. Early Life and Education
2. Career in Archaeology
3. Dissident and "Charter 77"
4. Archaeological Collaborations
5. "Archaeology Yesterday and Today"
6. Exile and Return

Early Life and Education

Zdeněk Vácha was born in Czechoslovakia and developed a passion for archaeology from a young age. In 1957, he graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy at Charles University in Prague.

Career in Archaeology

Vácha worked in several museums across Czechoslovakia. However, his political activism led to his arrest in 1972 and subsequent imprisonment for three years on charges of slandering the state.

Dissident and "Charter 77"

Following his release, Vácha continued his political activism and became one of the signatories of the "Charter 77," a human rights manifesto that challenged the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia.

Archaeological Collaborations

Despite being a known dissident, Vácha remained active in archaeology. In 1975, he co-authored the influential book "Archaeology: How and Why?" with Czech archaeologist Jaroslav Malina. Due to political censorship, Vácha's name could not be included on the cover, but Malina ingeniously referenced him throughout the bibliography.

"Archaeology Yesterday and Today"

In 1990, Vácha collaborated with Malina and Miroslav Zvelebil on "Archaeology Yesterday and Today," which was also translated into English. This work became a significant contribution to the field of archaeology.

Exile and Return

In 1981, Vácha went into exile and taught at universities in Rome, Cambridge, Bochum, and Paris. After the fall of Communism in Czechoslovakia, he returned home and resumed his academic career in Prague and Brno.