Lewis H. Larson Jr., 85: Georgia’s first state archaeologist

Renowned archaeologist Lewis Larson used his expertise to promote the value of historic preservation. According to his nephew, Jeff Larson of Mannford, Okla., “Dr. Larson felt that archaeology, as a science and an art, should be strictly about who was here before us.”

An expert in Southeastern archaeology, Larson’s dedication to historic preservation spanned over 50 years. His body of work included excavation on St. Catherines Island, Pine Harbor, Sutherland Bluff and the Sapelo Shell Ring on the Georgia Coast. In 1954, he began work on the Etowah Indian Mound site in Cartersville, and his fieldwork on Mound C provided important artifacts and knowledge on prehistoric Native Americans who lived in Georgia.