The archaeobotanical ‘family’ is so much poorer without Willem van Zeist. He was connecting the founding of the archaeobotanical group with the IWGP and with the present.

I had the good luck to receive a small scholarship in the autumn of 1996 (2 and ½ months) and work with him at the University of Groningen in the laboratory of Willem and Sytze Bottema (who was then the Professor) as van Zeist had already retired. Both of them and everybody in the department was exceptionally kind and helpful. It seems that professors generally provide the pace. This was a time of learning, although I had already completed my PhD, and yet it was a sort of post-doc. Discussions with him, Sytze Bottema and the staff such as Henk Woldering and others provided a great deal of intellectual stimulation. The 10:00 o’clock coffee breaks were a time of reunion, discussion and getting to know what others were researching on.

The kindness was spilling over as I cannot remember having spent a whole week-end alone during that time period. Willem and Sytze Bottema were taking me on excursions to show me places and offering me hospitality either at their homes or outside. This side of their humanity was so endearing and even modesty I should say. Two great men who had so much to offer still. Willem van Zeist was considered a strict man and yet he had such a gentle side to his nature which was also displayed towards his wife, whom he took care of and even cooked for. Surely, members of staff in other countries, including Greece have a great deal to learn from them, regarding their social skills.

My time in the Netherlands, at Groningen University is remembered with warmth and has left so many treasured moments engrained in my mind and heart. May they both rest in peace and each and every one was so prolific and stimulating in the research they conducted.

Anaya Sarpaki

From: The archaeobotany mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mukund Kajale
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2016 6:29 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: PROF. WILLEM van ZEIST is no more.

Dear Colleagues and friends,

I got a communication stating  that Prof. Willem van Zeist expired on 7th October 2016. 

He was one of the father-founders of our International Work-Group for Palaeoethnobotany.

Prof. van Zeist will always be remembered  by generations of  archaeobotanists and archaeologists and  for his outstanding contributions to Archaeobotany, Archaeopalynology and palaeoenvironmental studies.

Mukund Kajale