Roderick Sprague
Encyclopedia
Roderick Sprague is a renowned American anthropologist, ethnohistorian and historical archaeologist, and the Emeritus Director of the Laboratory of Anthropology at the University of Idaho
, where he taught for thirty years. He has extensive experience in environmental impact research, trade beads, aboriginal burial customs, and the Columbia Basin area.
In addition to his work in the traditional anthropological fields, he has also collaborated with Professor Grover Krantz
in an attempt to apply scientific reasoning to the study of Sasquatch.
from Washington State University
in Pullman, Washington
. He received his Ph.D from the University of Arizona
in Tucson, Arizona
.
As a graduate student in 1964 at Washington State University, he was the field supervisor of a dig at the Palus burial site in Lyons Ferry, Washington when one of only a few known Jefferson Peace Medals was discovered.
Additionally, his dissertation, "Aboriginal burial practices in the plateau region of North America" (1967) is considered one of the best writings on the topic.
, Alaska
, and the Canadian Maritime on Prince Edward Island
; and has done research in the American Southwest and Inner Mongolia
. Much of his research has been on burial practices and historical archaeology, with a special interest in glass and ceramic trade beads and buttons. He has conducted burial research at the request of ten different American Indian tribal governments. Sprague was an early advocate of the importance of repatriation
in archaeological and anthropological excavations, long before the enactment of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
.
Sprague has served many roles in the Society for Historical Archaeology: on the Board of Directors from 1970–71, secretary-treasurer from 1971–1974, member of the Editorial Advisory Board since 1977, Book Review Editor from 1977 to 1997, Archivist from 1987 to 1998, as President in 1976 and 1990 and as Parliamentarian from 1984 to 2008.
He was a Professor of Anthropology at the University of Idaho for thirty years, until his retirement in 1997.
Sprague, along with Dr. Deward E. Walker, founded the scholarly journal Northwest Anthropological Research Notes in 1966, called the Journal of Northwest Anthropology since 2001.
, with his wife Linda, who also holds degrees in anthropology.
Among his published works on Sasquatch:
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
, where he taught for thirty years. He has extensive experience in environmental impact research, trade beads, aboriginal burial customs, and the Columbia Basin area.
In addition to his work in the traditional anthropological fields, he has also collaborated with Professor Grover Krantz
Grover Krantz
Grover Sanders Krantz was a professor of physical anthropology at Washington State University, perhaps most famous to the general public as one of the few scientists not only to research Bigfoot, but also to express his belief in the cryptid's existence...
in an attempt to apply scientific reasoning to the study of Sasquatch.
Education
Sprague received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in anthropologyAnthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
from Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
in Pullman, Washington
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
. He received his Ph.D from the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
.
As a graduate student in 1964 at Washington State University, he was the field supervisor of a dig at the Palus burial site in Lyons Ferry, Washington when one of only a few known Jefferson Peace Medals was discovered.
Additionally, his dissertation, "Aboriginal burial practices in the plateau region of North America" (1967) is considered one of the best writings on the topic.
Career
Sprague’s career has been varied and taken him in different directions. He has conducted excavations in the Pacific NorthwestPacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, and the Canadian Maritime on Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
; and has done research in the American Southwest and Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
. Much of his research has been on burial practices and historical archaeology, with a special interest in glass and ceramic trade beads and buttons. He has conducted burial research at the request of ten different American Indian tribal governments. Sprague was an early advocate of the importance of repatriation
Art repatriation
Art repatriation is the return of art or cultural objects, usually referring to ancient or looted art, to their country of origin or former owners . The disputed cultural property items are physical artifacts of a group or society that were taken from another group usually in an act of looting,...
in archaeological and anthropological excavations, long before the enactment of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act , Pub. L. 101-601, 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq., 104 Stat. 3048, is a United States federal law passed on 16 November 1990 requiring federal agencies and institutions that receive federal funding to return Native American "cultural items" to...
.
Sprague has served many roles in the Society for Historical Archaeology: on the Board of Directors from 1970–71, secretary-treasurer from 1971–1974, member of the Editorial Advisory Board since 1977, Book Review Editor from 1977 to 1997, Archivist from 1987 to 1998, as President in 1976 and 1990 and as Parliamentarian from 1984 to 2008.
He was a Professor of Anthropology at the University of Idaho for thirty years, until his retirement in 1997.
Sprague, along with Dr. Deward E. Walker, founded the scholarly journal Northwest Anthropological Research Notes in 1966, called the Journal of Northwest Anthropology since 2001.
Awards
Sprague was the first member of The Society for Historical Archaeology to be awarded both the J. C. Harrington Medal in Historical Archaeology and the Carol Ruppe Distinguished Service Award.Personal life
Now retired, Sprague lives in Moscow, IdahoMoscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
, with his wife Linda, who also holds degrees in anthropology.
Published works
- Burial Terminology: A Guide For Researchers (Lanham: AltaMira Press, 2005, ISBN 0759108412)
- Excavations at the Warren Chinese mining camp site, with Michael Striker, Moscow: Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology, University of Idaho, 1993.
- A Preliminary Bibliography of Washington Archaeology Pullman: Washington State University, 1967)
- The Material Culture of Steamboat Passengers - Archaeological Evidence from the Missouri River (New York: Springer, 1999, Annalies Corbin 0306461684)
- A Bibliography of Trade Beads in North America, with Karlis Karklins. Promontory Press, 1987. 0969276109
- The Descriptive Archaeology of the Palus Burial Site, Lyons Ferry, Washington, Pullman: Washington State University, 1965. B0007HGKL4
Among his published works on Sasquatch:
- The Scientist Looks at the Sasquatch (Moscow: University Press of Idaho, 1977, with anthropologist Grover KrantzGrover KrantzGrover Sanders Krantz was a professor of physical anthropology at Washington State University, perhaps most famous to the general public as one of the few scientists not only to research Bigfoot, but also to express his belief in the cryptid's existence...
) - The Scientist Looks at the Sasquatch II (Moscow: University Press of Idaho, 1979, also with Grover Krantz, ISBN 0-89301-061-8)