Philip Phillips (archaeologist) facts for kids
Philip Phillips (born August 11, 1900 – died December 11, 1994) was a very important archaeologist in the United States during the 20th century. He first studied architecture in college. Later, he earned his advanced degree from Harvard University.
Philip Phillips started his archaeology work at Iroquois sites. But he became an expert in the Mississippian culture, especially in the Lower Mississippi Valley. This was a group of ancient people who lived in what is now the southeastern United States.
About His Work
In 1937, Philip Phillips began working at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard. He started as an assistant curator, which means he helped manage the museum's collections. In 1949, he became the main curator. He continued to be an honorary curator even after he retired in 1967, until he passed away.
He worked closely with other famous archaeologists like James A. Ford, James Bennett Griffin, and Gordon Willey. Together, they wrote many important books about American archaeology. These books are still used and studied by archaeologists today.
His Life
Philip Phillips married Ruth Wilma Schoellkopf in 1922 in Buffalo, New York. In 1942, the Phillips family lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They had a son named Bradley Sawyer Phillips.
Philip Phillips passed away at his home in Bolton, Massachusetts in 1994. He cared about his community. He helped restore the Whitcomb Inn and Farm, which was the oldest house in Bolton. He also gave land to the town so it could be preserved for everyone to use and enjoy.
What He Wrote
Philip Phillips wrote many important books and papers about his archaeological discoveries. These writings helped other archaeologists learn more about ancient cultures in the United States. Some of his well-known works include:
- Books about shell carvings from the Craig Mound in Oklahoma.
- Reports on his archaeological surveys in the Lower Yazoo Basin in Mississippi.
- Studies about the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley.
