Definition: American archaeologist Alexander Spoehr conducted research in the Pacific Islands during the 1950s and 1960s, and is best known for defining the prehistoric ceramic culture known as Lapita. Trained at Stanford and the University of Chicago, Spoehr worked at the Field Museum of Chicago until World War II when he was commissioned as a lieutenant and shipped out to the south seas, stimulating his interest in Pacific Island archaeology. He was director of the Bishop Museum between 1953 and 1962, and professor of anthropology at University of Pittsburgh until his retirement in 1978.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar.
