Dr Katie Meheux, UCL Institute of Archaeology, discusses Professor Vere Gordon Childe (1892-1957). Childe was one of the most influential figures of 20th century archaeology, but his political life remains enigmatic. Security Service files kept on Childe reveal that he was a dedicated left-wing political activist kept under prolonged observation by M15 for his Communist affiliations. This talk will offer fascinating insights into his life and contemporary attitudes to radical politics and thought in Britain.