Robert Wauchope (archaeologist)
Encyclopedia
Robert Wauchope was an American archaeologist and anthropologist, whose academic research specialized in the prehistory and archaeology of Latin America
, Mesoamerica
, and the Southwestern United States
.
Wauchope was born to George Armstrong Wauchope and Elizabeth Bostedo Wauchope in Columbia, South Carolina
on December 10, 1909. His interest in archaeology developed early as an Eagle Scout
, and upon graduating high school, he wrote Alfred V. Kidder
and asked to join him on excavations at Pecos, New Mexico
. Kidder accepted Robert’s request and invited him to be an assistant at the Forked Lightning Ruin site.
Robert attended the First Pecos Conference in 1927 where he met H.S. and C.B. Cosgrove, who invited him to their 1928–1929 excavations at Stallings Island, Georgia
. After leaving Stallings Island, he attended the University of South Carolina
where he received a bachelor’s degree in English in 1931.
He enrolled at Harvard University
in 1931 with his interests focused on archaeology. During 1932, Wauchope accompanied Alfred V. Kidder
during excavations at Uaxactun
, Guatemala
. In 1938, he graduated from Harvard with a Ph.D. in anthropology
, and took a job at the University of Georgia
teaching anthropology courses and Southeastern prehistory.
Throughout his tenure at Georgia, Wauchope surveyed over 200 sites north of Macon
, and excavated 23 sites in Macon, Savannah
, Stallings Island, and at Etowah
. Wauchope developed and ran an archaeology laboratory at the University of Georgia, in addition to setting up the states first detailed archaeological site file. He played a large part in developing the ceramic sequence for north Georgia during the two years he was there.
In 1940, Wauchope got a job as associate professor of anthropology and director of the Laboratory of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Wauchope is an uncle of underwater archaeologist George F. Bass
.
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica is a region and culture area in the Americas, extending approximately from central Mexico to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, within which a number of pre-Columbian societies flourished before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and...
, and the Southwestern United States
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
.
Wauchope was born to George Armstrong Wauchope and Elizabeth Bostedo Wauchope in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
on December 10, 1909. His interest in archaeology developed early as an Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
, and upon graduating high school, he wrote Alfred V. Kidder
Alfred V. Kidder
Alfred Vincent Kidder was an American archaeologist considered the foremost of the southwestern United States and Mesoamerica during the first half of the 20th century...
and asked to join him on excavations at Pecos, New Mexico
Pecos, New Mexico
Pecos is a village in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,441 at the 2000 census, growing much faster than in other parts of San Miguel County, partly because Pecos is within commuting distance of Santa Fe. The village is built along the Pecos River which flows from...
. Kidder accepted Robert’s request and invited him to be an assistant at the Forked Lightning Ruin site.
Robert attended the First Pecos Conference in 1927 where he met H.S. and C.B. Cosgrove, who invited him to their 1928–1929 excavations at Stallings Island, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. After leaving Stallings Island, he attended the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
where he received a bachelor’s degree in English in 1931.
He enrolled at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1931 with his interests focused on archaeology. During 1932, Wauchope accompanied Alfred V. Kidder
Alfred V. Kidder
Alfred Vincent Kidder was an American archaeologist considered the foremost of the southwestern United States and Mesoamerica during the first half of the 20th century...
during excavations at Uaxactun
Uaxactun
Uaxactun is an ancient ruin of the Maya civilization, located in the Petén Basin region of the Maya lowlands, in the present-day department of Petén, Guatemala. The site lies some north of the major center of Tikal...
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. In 1938, he graduated from Harvard with a Ph.D. in anthropology
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...
, and took a job at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
teaching anthropology courses and Southeastern prehistory.
Throughout his tenure at Georgia, Wauchope surveyed over 200 sites north of Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, and excavated 23 sites in Macon, Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, Stallings Island, and at Etowah
Etowah
Etowahis a Muskogee word for 'town'/'people'/'tribe',and may also refer to:Places in the United States:* The Etowah River in Georgia* Etowah, Arkansas* Etowah, North Carolina* Etowah, Oklahoma* Etowah, Tennessee...
. Wauchope developed and ran an archaeology laboratory at the University of Georgia, in addition to setting up the states first detailed archaeological site file. He played a large part in developing the ceramic sequence for north Georgia during the two years he was there.
In 1940, Wauchope got a job as associate professor of anthropology and director of the Laboratory of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Wauchope is an uncle of underwater archaeologist George F. Bass
George Bass (archaeologist)
George Fletcher Bass is recognized as one of the early practitioners of underwater archaeology, along with Peter Throckmorton, Honor Frost, and others....
.
External links
- Middle American Research Institute, Tulane University