Archaeology, Soccer & Pelé: Archaeology Field Work & the Beautiful Game
Pelé scissor kick to the goal at the Maracanã Stadium (Brazil) 1965
For archaeologists working outside the U.S., soccer is an important (and fun) community building activity. Countless times, archaeologists played the beautiful game with local community members building trust, comradeship, goodwill and long lasting friendships. On many occasions, soccer is the tool that breaks the ice, bringing archaeologists and locals together and bridging language and cultural barriers. Because soccer plays such a central role in supporting archaeological field work, we want to pause and recognize the passing of one of soccer’s greatest – if not the greatest of them all – Pelé.
Born in 1940 in the Brazilian mining state of Minas Gerais, Edson Arantes Do Nascimento was the child of a journeyman soccer player (Dondinho) and a teenage mother (Celeste). The moniker Pelé was given to him by his father’s teammates, and despite his initial dislike of the name, it stuck. Pelé is the only person to win three world cups (1958, 1962, 1970) and coined the term “the beautiful game”. Pelé played for Santos (Brazil) and later for Cosmos (NY). He became a global ambassador for the sport and was a role model to generations of players and fans – always smiling, always positive, always caring. Pelé became so famous that when visiting Ronald Regan at the White House in 1982, the president said: “You are probably aware who is with me today. By the way, my name is Ronald Regan”. Andy Warhol said that while some people will have their 15 minutes of fame, Pelé will have 15 centuries of fame.
Pelé was a symbol, a celebrity that lived to his reputation. Pelé was an inspirational figure that showed us nothing is impossible. Born to extreme poverty in Brazil, he rose to world fame but never forgot where he came from. Pelé always advocated for the downtrodden, always showing the world what generosity of spirit, good will and hard work can bring. Pelé will always be a uniting figure, a person that inspires joy & love, a symbol for what is possible. Pelé may be human, but he is the quintessential personification of the Beautiful Game.
CFS joins millions around the world mourning the passing of a legend. May Pelé continue and dazzle the angels in Heaven, may his work continue to inspire all of us to do and be our better selves, and may soccer continue to bring archaeologists and communities together – for ever and ever, or at least until the beers are out.
The King had passed. Long live the Beautiful Game…..
