Robert Carl Suggs (February 24, 1932 - April 17, 2021) was an American

archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...

and

anthropologist An anthropologist is a scientist engaged in the practice of anthropology. Anthropologists study aspects of humans within past and present societies. Social anthropology, cultural anthropology and philosophical anthropology study the norms, values ...

. He was a student of Harry L. Shapiro at the

American Museum of Natural History The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is a natural history museum on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. Located in Theodore Roosevelt Park, across the street from Central Park, the museum complex comprises 21 interconn ...

in the 1950s and received his M.A. from

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

in 1956 and his Ph.D. from Columbia in 1959. Suggs is best known for his work on

Nuku Hiva Nuku Hiva (sometimes spelled Nukahiva or Nukuhiva) is the largest of the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas country of France in the Pacific Ocean. It was formerly also known as ''Île Marchand'' and ''Madison Island''. Herman M ...

in the

Marquesas Islands The Marquesas Islands ( ; or ' or ' ; Marquesan language, Marquesan: ' (North Marquesan language, North Marquesan) and ' (South Marquesan language, South Marquesan), both meaning "the land of men") are a group of volcano, volcanic islands in ...

. He also was noted for his refutation of the theory of Thor Heyerdahl, who had speculated that Polynesia was possibly settled from South America, rather than the prevailing belief that the area was settled from west to east, that is, from Asia. Dr. Suggs has a chapter entitled "The Kon-Tiki Myth" in his book, The Island Civilizations of Polynesia (1960), that states, "The Kon-Tiki theory is about as plausible as the tales of

Atlantis Atlantis () is a fictional island mentioned in Plato's works '' Timaeus'' and ''Critias'' as part of an allegory on the hubris of nations. In the story, Atlantis is described as a naval empire that ruled all Western parts of the known world ...

, Mu, and 'Children of the Sun.' Like most such theories, it makes exciting light reading, but as an example of

scientific method The scientific method is an Empirical evidence, empirical method for acquiring knowledge that has been referred to while doing science since at least the 17th century. Historically, it was developed through the centuries from the ancient and ...

it fares quite poorly." He authored 48 works that have been published in 10 languages. He also was employed by several private corporations, including the Martin Co. and Dunlap and Associates, in the 1960s when he conducted studies into nuclear fallout shelters and habitats for the space program. Books by Dr. Suggs appeal to both a specialized audience in anthropology and the general public. For many years in his retirement, he led private tours and was a speaker on the cruise ship Aranui 3.

Selected writings

*''The Island Civilizations of Polynesia'', New American Library (1960) *''The Hidden Worlds of Polynesia; The Chronicle of an Archaeological Expedition to Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands'', Harcourt-Brace (1962) *''Marquesan Sexual Behavior: An Anthropological Study of Polynesian Practices'', Harcourt-Brace (1966) *''Manuiota'a: Journal of a Voyage to the Marquesas Islands'', with Burgl Lichtenstein, Pa'eke Press (2001)

References

External links

Marquesas Islands Guide Service
1. Robert C. Suggs, The Island Civilizations of Polynesia, New York: New American Library, p. 224.

1932 births 2021 deaths American anthropologists Columbia University alumni American archaeologists {{US-archaeologist-stub