Adolph Francis Alphonse Bandelier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adolph Francis Alphonse Bandelier
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | August 6, 1840 |
| Died | March 18, 1914 (aged 73) Sevilla, Spain
|
| Nationality | American |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Archaeology |
Adolph Francis Alphonse Bandelier (born August 6, 1840 – died March 18, 1914) was an American archaeologist. He was born in Bern, Switzerland but moved to the United States when he was young. Bandelier became famous for studying the ancient cultures of Native American peoples. He explored places in the American Southwest, Mexico, and South America.
He left his family's business to become a scholar. He focused on new fields like archaeology (studying old things) and ethnology (studying cultures).
Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico is named after him. His work showed how important this area was for understanding the Ancestral Puebloans. These ancient people lived there between 1150 and 1600 CE.
Contents
Early Life and Studies
Bandelier was born in Bern, Switzerland. When he was young, his family moved to the United States. They settled in Highland, Illinois, a town started by other Swiss immigrants. He did not enjoy working in his family's business.
He met Lewis Henry Morgan, a famous anthropologist from New York. Morgan became his teacher and helped Bandelier start his studies. Bandelier began to explore and research Native American cultures. He worked in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and South America.
Exploring Ancient Cultures
Bandelier started his research in Sonora (Mexico), Arizona, and New Mexico. He became a top expert on the history of this region. Along with F. H. Cushing, he was a leading authority on ancient civilizations. This was when archaeology and ethnology were very new fields of study.
In 1892, Bandelier left the Southwest. He traveled to Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru. There, he continued his work on cultures, ancient sites, and history. He helped with the Hemenway Archaeological Expedition. He also worked for Henry Villard and the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
Bandelier helped correct many historical myths. For example, he shared important new facts about the Inca civilization in Peru.
Friends and Legacy
While working at the Isleta pueblo in New Mexico, Bandelier made lasting friends. One friend was Father Anton Docher, a French missionary. Father Docher had served the Tiwa people since 1891. Another friend was Charles Fletcher Lummis, an American writer and journalist. Lummis also wrote about different cultures.
Lummis traveled with Bandelier for a while in South America. The three men stayed friends for many years.
Honors and Recognition
- Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico is named for him. His studies showed how important this area was for understanding ancient cultures.
- Bandelier Elementary School in Albuquerque, New Mexico was also named after him.
- In 1881, Bandelier became a member of the American Antiquarian Society.
See also
In Spanish: Adolph Bandelier para niños
