Lessons for the Modern Day: The Archaeological Legacy of J. Louis Giddings

Summary

Louis Giddings began work in northwestern Alaska long before the advent of radiometric dating, at a time when all but the most basic outlines of human history in the region were unknown. Over the course of a relatively brief but remarkably productive career in Arctic Archaeology, he established a basic culture-historical framework for the region that remains largely valid today. He did so by employing the best available sound science – borrowing techniques and principles such as beach-ridge archaeology and dendro-chronology developed by colleagues in other regions and applying them as opportunities presented themselves. Importantly, he was aided in this effort by a recognition that his initial interpretations were founded on very limited data, and that being willing to change his views in light of new information was essential. In the process, he also demonstrated a consistent ability to recognize the relevance of the data he collected to some of the bigger-picture questions of the day. Recent research in northwest Alaska by Giddings' academic descendants has refined and largely corroborated many of his ideas. Giddings may have been interested to see the directions in site dating, raw material analysis, and lithic technology his work inspired.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• Envisioning and Re-envisioning Arctic Archaeology: The Enduring Legacies of J. Louis Giddings (1909-1964)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage