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Robert McCormick Adams: An Archaeological Biography

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Norman Yoffee*
Affiliation:
Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Abstract

Robert Adams celebrated his 70th birthday on July 23, 1996. Forty years ago American Antiquity published his first journal article, which helped launch a remarkable career. Adams has influenced not only fundamental aspects of social evolutionary theory and archaeological reconnaissance surveys but also the structure of support for science in the United States and abroad. At the 1996 meetings of the Society for American Archaeology, Adams was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. This essay traces the intellectual influences on Adams, the progress of his fieldwork, and the exposition and development of his ideas in his monographs and major essays. The significance of his work is assessed, and a bibliography of his principal archaeological writings is included.

Robert Adams celebró su 70 a cumpleaños el 23 de Julio de 1996. Hace cuarenta años, American Antiquity publicó su primer articule, el cual ayudó a lanzar su notable carrera. Adams no sólo tuvo influencia en los aspectos fundamentales de la teoría de la evolución social y en la prospección arqueológica pero también en la estructura de apoyo a la ciencia en los Estados Unidos y en el extranjero. Durante la junta de 1996, la Sociedad de Arqueologia Americana se otorgó a Adams la Medalla por Servicio de Distinción. El presente ensayo traza las influencias intelectuales que tuvo Adams, el progreso de su trabajo de campo, y la exposición y desarollo de sus ideas en sus monografías y trabajos mayores. Se revisa la importancia de su trabajo y se incluye una bibliografía de sus trabajos arqueológicos principales.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1997

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References

References Cited

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