Delbert Leroy True
Encyclopedia
D. L. True was an archaeologist who worked in California
, particularly San Diego County, and in northern Chile
.
Born in San Pedro
, California, True worked in a shipyard and served as an aerial-gunnery instructor during World War II. After the war he established a small avocado ranch in Pauma Valley, an inland area in northern San Diego County, where he because interested in and thoroughly familiar with the archaeological remains of the region's prehistoric cultures. Under the mentorship of Clement W. Meighan
, he enrolled in anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles
where he was cited by Time Magazine
as one of the dozen top graduates in 1961. He went on to receive his doctorate from UCLA in 1966, with a dissertation on the "Archaeological Differentiation of Shoshonean and Yuman Speaking Groups in Southern California". He served on the anthropology faculty of the University of California, Davis
from 1965 until his retirement.
True was instrumental in defining the Pauma
, San Luis Rey
, and Cuyamaca
complexes and in elucidating their roles in regional prehistory. Together with Claude N. Warren
, he also helped to elucidate the early San Dieguito and La Jolla
complexes.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, particularly San Diego County, and in northern Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
.
Born in San Pedro
San Pedro, Los Angeles, California
San Pedro is a port district of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. It was annexed in 1909 and is a major seaport of the area...
, California, True worked in a shipyard and served as an aerial-gunnery instructor during World War II. After the war he established a small avocado ranch in Pauma Valley, an inland area in northern San Diego County, where he because interested in and thoroughly familiar with the archaeological remains of the region's prehistoric cultures. Under the mentorship of Clement W. Meighan
Clement Woodward Meighan
Clement W. Meighan was an archaeologist who made notable contributions to reconstructing the prehistory of southern California, Baja California, and west central Mexico.-Early life and education:...
, he enrolled in anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
where he was cited by Time Magazine
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
as one of the dozen top graduates in 1961. He went on to receive his doctorate from UCLA in 1966, with a dissertation on the "Archaeological Differentiation of Shoshonean and Yuman Speaking Groups in Southern California". He served on the anthropology faculty of the University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
from 1965 until his retirement.
True was instrumental in defining the Pauma
Pauma Complex
The Pauma Complex is a prehistoric archaeological pattern initially defined by Delbert L. True in northern San Diego County, California.The complex is dated generally to the middle Holocene period...
, San Luis Rey
San Luis Rey Complex
The San Luis Rey Complex is an archaeological pattern representing the latest phase of prehistory in the region occupied at the time of European contact by the Luiseño Indians. Studies by Clement W. Meighan and Delbert L...
, and Cuyamaca
Cuyamaca Complex
The Cuyamaca complex is a precolumbian complex, dating from the late Holocene, with archaeological sites in San Diego County, California. This complex is related to the Kumeyaay peoples....
complexes and in elucidating their roles in regional prehistory. Together with Claude N. Warren
Claude Nelson Warren
Claude Nelson Warren is a California Desert anthropologist and specialist in early man in the Far West and has been instrumental in defining the San Dieguito and La Jolla cultural complexes...
, he also helped to elucidate the early San Dieguito and La Jolla
La Jolla Complex
The archaeological La Jolla Complex represents a prehistoric culture oriented toward coastal resources that prevailed during the middle Holocene period between c...
complexes.