Izumi Shimada
Encyclopedia
Izumi Shimada is a Distinguished Professor of Anthropology
at Southern Illinois University
, Carbondale (SIUC) and 2007 Outstanding Scholar with research interests in the archaeology
of complex pre-Hispanic cultures in the Andes
, the technology and organization of craft production
, mortuary analysis, experimental archaeology
, the role of ideology and organized religion
in cultural developments, and ecology-culture interaction.
Born in Kyoto, Japan in 1948, Shimada moved at the age of 16 with his parents to the U.S. in 1964. He majored in anthropology at Cornell (B.A. 1971) where he became interested in the ancient Andean civilization and experimental archaeology under tutelage of Prof. John V. Murra and Robert Ascher, respectively. Two seasons (1973, 1975) of archaeological fieldwork at the Moche
city of Pampa Grande (c. AD 600-750) on the northern coast of Peru
led to his doctorate in anthropology from the University of Arizona
in 1976.
(1977-8), Princeton
(1978–1983) and Harvard (1984–1991) before joining the SIUC in 1994.
From 1978 to the present, he has directed the Sicán Archaeological Project, focusing on the developmental processes, technology, religion, and other aspects of the pre-Hispanic Sicán culture
(c. AD 800-1400) on the northern coast of Peru. The project results formed the collection foundations of the Sicán National Museum
in Ferreñafe
, Peru, which opened in 2004.
In 2003 Shimada began interdisciplinary investigation into the social foundations and the paleo-environmental context of the famed prehistoric religious center of Pachacamac
, outside the city of Lima. The executive government (2003) and the congress (2006) of Peru bestowed him medals of honor
for his contribution to Peruvian cultural and historical knowledge and understanding.
He has written 150 journal articles and book chapters, collaborating on many of them with other prominent scholars in the field, including, but not limited to, Kenichi Shinoda and Robert Corruccini
. Dr. Shimada has written or edited 11 books, including the following works:
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
at Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
, Carbondale (SIUC) and 2007 Outstanding Scholar with research interests in the archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
of complex pre-Hispanic cultures in the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
, the technology and organization of craft production
Craft production
Craft production is the process of manufacturing by hand with or without the aid of tools. The term Craft production refers to a manufacturing technique applied in the hobbies of Handicraft but was also the common method of manufacture in the pre-industrialized world...
, mortuary analysis, experimental archaeology
Experimental archaeology
Experimental archaeology employs a number of different methods, techniques, analyses, and approaches in order to generate and test hypotheses, based upon archaeological source material, like ancient structures or artifacts. It should not be confused with primitive technology which is not concerned...
, the role of ideology and organized religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
in cultural developments, and ecology-culture interaction.
Born in Kyoto, Japan in 1948, Shimada moved at the age of 16 with his parents to the U.S. in 1964. He majored in anthropology at Cornell (B.A. 1971) where he became interested in the ancient Andean civilization and experimental archaeology under tutelage of Prof. John V. Murra and Robert Ascher, respectively. Two seasons (1973, 1975) of archaeological fieldwork at the Moche
Moche
'The Moche civilization flourished in northern Peru from about 100 AD to 800 AD, during the Regional Development Epoch. While this issue is the subject of some debate, many scholars contend that the Moche were not politically organized as a monolithic empire or state...
city of Pampa Grande (c. AD 600-750) on the northern coast of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
led to his doctorate in anthropology from the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
in 1976.
Career
Since then, Shimada taught at University of OregonUniversity of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
(1977-8), Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
(1978–1983) and Harvard (1984–1991) before joining the SIUC in 1994.
From 1978 to the present, he has directed the Sicán Archaeological Project, focusing on the developmental processes, technology, religion, and other aspects of the pre-Hispanic Sicán culture
Sican Culture
The Sican culture is the name that archaeologist Izumi Shimada gave to the culture that inhabited what is now the north coast of Peru between about AD 750 and 1375. According to Shimada, Sican means "temple of the moon". The Sican culture is also referred to as Lambayeque culture, after the name...
(c. AD 800-1400) on the northern coast of Peru. The project results formed the collection foundations of the Sicán National Museum
Sicán National Museum
The Sicán National Museum is a museum in Ferreñafe, Peru, which opened in 2004.The museum documents the ancient Sican culture....
in Ferreñafe
Ferreñafe
Ferreñafe is a town in Northern Peru, capital of the province Ferreñafe in the region Lambayeque.-External links:* Video Marinera composed by Alejandro Segura Dávila...
, Peru, which opened in 2004.
In 2003 Shimada began interdisciplinary investigation into the social foundations and the paleo-environmental context of the famed prehistoric religious center of Pachacamac
Pachacamac
The temple of Pachacamac is an archaeological site 40 km southeast of Lima, Peru in the Valley of the Lurín River. Most of the common buildings and temples were built c...
, outside the city of Lima. The executive government (2003) and the congress (2006) of Peru bestowed him medals of honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his contribution to Peruvian cultural and historical knowledge and understanding.
He has written 150 journal articles and book chapters, collaborating on many of them with other prominent scholars in the field, including, but not limited to, Kenichi Shinoda and Robert Corruccini
Robert Corruccini
Robert Spencer Corruccini is an American anthropologist, distinguished professor, Smithsonian Institution Research Fellow, Human Biology Council Fellow , and the 1994 Outstanding Scholar at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale...
. Dr. Shimada has written or edited 11 books, including the following works:
- Pampa Grande and the Mochica Culture (1994);
- Cultura Sicán (1995);
- Andean Ceramics: Technology, Organization and Approaches (1998); and
- Craft Production in Complex SocietiesComplex societyIn anthropology and archaeology, a complex society is a social formation that is otherwise described as a formative or developed state. The main criteria of complexity are:...
(2007).
Legacy and honors
- 2003, national government of Peru awarded him a medal of honor
- 2004, the Sicán National Museum, based on collection from the Shimada-led Sicán Archaeological Project, opened in Ferreñafe, Peru
- 2006, Peruvian Congress awarded a medal of honor to him
Peer-reviewed articles
- I. Shimada, K. Shinoda, J. Farnum, R.S. Corruccini, H. Watanabe. 2004. "An Integrated Analysis of Pre-Hispanic Mortuary Practices", Current Anthropology 45:369-402.
- R.S. Corruccini, I. Shimada. 2002a. "Dental Relatedness Corresponding to Mortuary Patterning at Huaca Loro, Peru", in American Journal of Physical Anthropology 117:113-121.
- R.S. Corruccini, I. Shimada, K. Shinoda. 2002b. "Dental and mtDNA Relatedness Among Thousand Year-Old Remains from Huaca Loro, Peru", in Dental Anthropology 16:9-14.
External links
- Dr. Izumi Shimada Academic Homepage. Accessed 14 October 2010.
- Sican Archaeological Project Website