Samuel Kirkland Lothrop
Samuel Kirkland Lothrop (1892-1965)
Samuel Kirkland Lothrop was an archaeologist and anthropologist who specialized in Central and South American Studies. As a result of taking part in numerous excavations in the Central and South American areas, he made many written contributions to the field of study. He is also known for obtaining the unique privilege to perform excavations in Argentine Territory as well as his excavations of the Stone spheres of Costa Rica. Today his work, Pottery of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, is still considered the ultimate authority on such subjects.[1]
Early Life
A descendent of his namesake,Samuel Kirkland Lothrop, a prominent Unitarian Minister[2] , he was born in Milton Massachusetts on July 6, 1892 to William and Alice Lothrop. His childhood was split between Massachusetts and Puerto Rico. Little is known about the development of Lothrop’s interest South America only that it may have been sparked early on in his childhood when he spent time in Puerto Rico where his father was a banker with interests in the sugar industry .[3]
Education
Lothrop began his education at Groton School, a boarding school in Massachusetts. He entered Harvard in 1911, where he completed his undergraduate studies in 1915. The year before he graduated he married Rachel Warren of Boston. After completing his undergraduate studies he began Graduate School at Harvard focusing on anthropology and archaeology.[1] He traveled extensively throughout Central America as an associate to the Peabody Museum of Harvard, excavating various areas and studying collections. His travels and excavations were interrupted by the eruption ofWorld War I, where he served in Military Intelligence.[4] After the war, he returned to his graduate work eventually earning his Ph.D. with his thesis work published in 1926 titled: Pottery of Costa Rica and Nicaragua.[1]
Military Career
As stated earlier, Lothrop served as a spy in WWI. Using anthropologists for gathering intelligence was a common practice of the time. Given their ability to observe cultural practices as well as those useful to strategies of war, not to mention the fact that they could use their careers as a cover for their intelligence gathering, anthropologists are ideal choices for spies. During WWII, he was not excavating once again, because of the time spent working for the military. His position in the military did however give him the opportunity to travel while compositing notes on various sites.
- ^ a b c [Willey, Gordon R. Samuel Kirkland Lothrop: July 6, 1892-January 10, 1965. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences, 1976. Print.]
- ^ [Lothrop, Thorton Kirkland. Some Reminiscences of the Life of Samuel Kirkland Lothrop. Cambridge: John Wilson and Son. UP, 1888. Print.]
- ^ [Ayala, César J. American Sugar Kingdom: the Plantation Economy of the Spanish Caribbean, 1898-1934. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina, 1999. Print.]
- ^ [Harris, Charles H., and Louis R. Sadler. The Archaeologist Was a Spy: Sylvanus G. Morley and the Office of Naval intelligence. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico, 2003. Print.]