author
John L. (John Lambert) Cotter
1911–1999
A pioneering American archaeologist, he helped shape historical archaeology in the United States through decades of fieldwork, teaching, and public-service research.
1 Audiobook
New Discoveries at Jamestown Site of the First Successful English Settlement in America
by John L. (John Lambert) Cotter, J. Paul Hudson
About the author
Born in Denver in 1911, John L. Cotter studied anthropology at the University of Denver and went on to build a career in archaeology that lasted more than sixty years. Early in his career, he worked on important Paleoindian sites including Lindenmeier in Colorado and Clovis in New Mexico.
He later held a number of posts with the National Park Service and became especially influential in the growth of historical archaeology in the United States. He is widely associated with major work at Jamestown and with helping establish historical archaeology as a serious field of study.
Cotter also taught at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is remembered as a pioneer in bringing historical archaeology into the classroom. He died in 1999, leaving a long record of research, fieldwork, and mentorship.