John Frederick Hansman, 92, of Fort Madison, Iowa, died on March 27, 2023 at The Kensington, Fort Madison.  He was born on June 1, 1930 in Fort Madison, a son of Herbert C. and Irene A. (Lennon) Hansman.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Robert H. Hansman.

John was an archaeologist, an author, a historian, and a veteran.  He graduated from Fort Madison High School in 1948 and the University of Iowa in 1953.  After serving two years in the U.S. Navy, John spent the next few decades active in Great Britain and the Middle East.

Initially, John worked on the administrative staff of an American company building a major dam in the Kurdish region of Northeast Iraq. He later held a similar position on a road paving and dam development project in southwest Iran.  In the mid-1960's, he moved to Britain to complete a PhD degree in archaeology at the School of Oriental Studies, University of London. His thesis required several archeological ground surveys of ancient cultural sites in large adjoining areas of southern Iraq and Iran.

After graduation in 1970, Dr. Hansman remained in London, researching and publishing papers on ancient Middle Eastern cultures and historical geography, periodically revisiting those regions for further excavation and archaeological surveys.  A special interest was searching for the locations of ancient cities referenced in surviving historic texts but the present sites of which were then uncertain. Hansman found several such sites during his thesis surveys and another identified on a later reconnaissance.

In 1972, Hansman was a state guest at a 10-day celebration in Tehran marking the 2500th anniversary year from the founding of the Iranian monarchy.  During these events he was decorated by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, for archaeological excavations that clarified aspects of early Iranian history.

Over three seasons, Hansman served as co-director, under the British Institute of Persian Studies, at the Hecatompylos site, the last of these operations being closed down after four weeks follow outbreak, in 1979 of the Iranian revolution.

In 1977 and 1978, Dr. Hansman directed archaeological excavations at the medieval Islamic port of Julfar on the Persian Gulf, in the United Arab Emirates. He was decorated by Shaykh Kaqu al-Qasimi, ruler of Ra's-al-Khaimah of the United Arab Emirate, for excavations at Julfar, and he authored the volume Julfar , published by the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain, describing those investigations.  He also organized an exhibition tracing the history of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain, and was honored to escort Queen Elizabeth through the exhibition.

In 1977 and 2002 Hansman was commissioned by successive curators at lolani Palace (the former residence of Hawaiian kings), Honolulu, to research and date ceramic and glass artifacts found within utility trenches opened on the palace grounds.

In 1980, Hansman was elected a research fellow at Clare College, University of Cambridge. He also became a life Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, and Fellow Honoris Causa of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain.

During his years abroad, Dr. Hansman often returned to Fort Madison for extended visits, and decided to stay in the early 1990s.

At Fort Madison, John was a founding and long-time member of the city appointed Old Fort Commission that oversaw the reconstruction and operation of the 1808 local army post in Riverview Park.  He wrote five monographs treating separate aspects of the fort: its history, garrison life, medical practices, Indian relations, and archaeology with reconstruction.

In 1981, Dr. Hansman excavated the cellar of an officers quarters at the original fort site, a project that helped reconcile several historical problems relating to the fort's layout and use which he described in an article published in the Plains Anthropologist journal.

John was a founding board member of the Sheaffer Pen Museum at Fort Madison, and was Chairman of the Fort Madison municipal commissions to celebrate the 150th anniversary in 1988 of the incorporation of the city, the 150th anniversary in 1996 of Iowa statehood, and the 200th anniversary in 2008 of the founding of the old fort.

John had a great interest in local history.  After researching local newspaper archives and historical sources, conducting interviews with local residents, hand writing and revising 800-plus typed pages, over a period of 46 years, he published the local history book "A Fort Madison Chronicle with Aspects of North Lee County" in December 2018.

Per his wishes, Dr. Hansman's body has been cremated.  Private burial will be at the City Cemetery in Fort Madison.  Barr Memorial Chapel is honored to serve the Hansman family.