NIKOLAAS JOHANNES VAN DER MERWE: 11 AUGUST 1940-26 AUGUST 2025.

This article memorializes Nikolaas Johannes van der Merwe, a pioneering South African archaeological scientist whose work significantly advanced archaeometallurgy and stable isotope analysis in archaeology and environmental sciences. Van der Merwe developed methods for radiocarbon dating of iron and contributed foundational research on stable carbon isotope ratios (13C/12C) to trace ancient diets and agricultural practices, notably the spread of C4 maize farming in North America. His interdisciplinary approach extended to ecological studies, including the dietary ecology of African elephants and the origins of ivory, and to hominin evolution through isotope analysis of tooth enamel. He held academic positions at the University of Cape Town and Harvard University, received multiple honors, and helped establish key research centers and methodologies that remain influential across archaeology, biology, and environmental science. [Extracted from the article]