Archaeologist Biographies K-L
Claude Levi-Strauss
Belgian anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss is still quite influential on archaeology today (not to mention philosophy, theology, and literature). His theories, oddly enough, had to do with seeking general human traits, arguing that there were certain concepts, certain dualities, that were hard-wired into all human beings.
Robert Koldewey [1855-1925]
Robert Johann Koldewey is probably known primarily as the excavator of Babylon.
Gustaf Kossinna [1858-1931]
German archaeologist and ethnohistorian Gustaf Kossinna is widely perceived as being a tool of the megalomaniac Adolf Hitler.
Augustus Le Plongeon [1825-1908]
While Augustus Le Plongeon might rightly be called more "infamous" than famous, his fabulous stereographs of Chichen Itza almost make up for the trouble he caused.
Ferdinand Keller [1800-1881]
Swiss archaeologist who during the 1850s conducted the first excavations of an Alpine lake dwelling at Obermeilen on Lake Zürich.
Susan Kent [1952-2003]
American ethnoarchaeologist Susan Kent first established a considerable reputation working in the American Southwest, most importantly on irrigation techniques of the pueblo peoples.
Kathleen Mary Kenyon [1906-1978]
English archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon is perhaps best known for excavating at Jericho.
Alfred Vincent Kidder [1885-1963]
American archaeologist A.V. Kidder is primarily known for his work in the American southwest and with Maya sites.
Patrick V. Kirch
American archaeologist, extensive studies throughout Polynesia and Oceania; possibly best known for his work with anthropologist Marshall Sahlins on Polynesia chiefdoms.
Alice Kober [1906-1950]
Alice Kober's awesome abilities made it possible for Michael Ventris to decipher the complex writing system known as Linear B.
Gustave Heinrich Ralph von Koenigswald [1902-1982]
German paleontologist and geologist G.H. Ralph von Koenigswald is best known for his work on early primate ancestors of humans, such as Pithecanthropus.
Robert Koldewey [1855-1925]
Known primarily as the excavator of Babylon, German archaeologist Robert Koldewey also excavated in Asia Minor, Greece, and Italy.
Gustaf Kossinna [1858-1931]
German archaeologist and ethnohistorian Gustaf Kossinna is widely perceived as being a tool of the megalomaniac Adolf Hitler.
Alfred L. Kroeber [1876-1960]
Kroeber was another one of those researchers who had an enormous impact on archaeology, even though it was a relatively minor interest of his.
Winifred Lamb [1894-1963]
Classical archaeologist and museum curator Winifred Lamb conducted work at several sites in the Aegean and Turkey, looking for connections between the islands and the Anatolian mainland.
Fra Diego de Landa [1524-1579]
Bishop de Landa is known as both the protector and destroyer of the culture of the Mayan people of the central American continent.
Eduard Lartet [1801-1871]
French paleontologist Eduard Lartet spent a long time searching for conclusive evidence that humans and extinct mammals co-existed.
Austen Henry Layard [1817–1894]
Victorian era British archaeologist Austen Henry Layard was originally trained as a lawyer.
Mary Douglas Nicol Leakey [1913-1996]
British paleontologist Mary Leakey found the Zinjanthropus skull (later renamed Australopithecus), and in 1972 discovered the famous Laetoli footprints.
Louis S. B. Leakey [1903-1972]
Born in Africa the son of English missionaries, Louis Leakey was, probably more than anyone else, the father of the paleontological research of human evolution in east Africa.
Andre Leroi-Gourhan [1911-1986]
French archaeologist Andre Leroi-Gourhan is best known for his work on paleolithic rock art; although he did excavations at the French paleolithic sites of Arcy-sur-Cure and Pincevent.
Augustus Le Plongeon [1825-1908]
While Augustus Le Plongeon might rightly be called more "infamous" than famous, his fabulous stereographs of Chichen Itza almost make up for the trouble he caused.
Claude Lévi-Strauss [b. 1908]
French anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss is still quite influential on archaeology today (not to mention philosophy, theology, and literature).
Willard Frank Libby [1908-1980]
Willard F. Libby was an American chemist who was part of the Manhattan Project during the 1940s.
Li Chi [1896-1979]
Chinese archaeologist Li Chi is considered the father of modern Chinese archaeology.
William A. Longacre II [b. 1937]
American ethno-archaeologist William Longacre has had a long career in archaeology; he is probably best known for his early contributions to the study of ethnoarchaeology.
John Lubbock [1834-1913]
John Lubbock was a wealthy English gentlemen of the 19th century who dabbled in archaeology
Charles Lyell [1797-1875]
Charles Lyell was a British geologist, whose "Principles of Geology" (1830-1833) gave wide public support to the principle of uniformitarianism