Born: 1941 (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Died: 2018
Biography:
Ruthann Knudson (1941-2018) was an American archaeologist known for her significant contributions to the study of North American Paleoindian (Plainview) lithics. As a woman navigating the field of cultural resource management during its early stages, Knudson played an active role in advocating for the inclusion and representation of women in reservoir salvage archaeology. Furthermore, she made substantial contributions to the drafting and promotion of the National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 1980. Ruthann Knudson’s notable achievements, determination, and passion for archaeology continue to inspire and influence the field to this day.
Born on October 24, 1941, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Ruthann Knudson was the eldest child of Sidney and Clara Knudson (née Tappe). Her ancestors were Seventh Day Baptist sect members who settled in Wisconsin during the 19th century. Knudson spent her formative years in Duluth, Minnesota, having relocated from Milwaukee at the age of eight. She attended Lincoln Elementary School in Duluth before pursuing her higher education.
Knudson initially pursued a liberal arts education at Hamline University, where she studied for two years. It was during the summers of 1960 and 1961, while working as a cook at Yellowstone and Mesa Verde National Parks, that her interest in anthropology and archaeology began to take shape. Eager to delve deeper into these disciplines, she transferred to the University of Minnesota, as Hamline did not offer an anthropology program. Under the guidance of Elden Johnson, Knudson earned her B.A. in 1963 and her M.A. in 1966. Throughout her studies, she actively participated in excavations at the Shakopee mounds site.
In 1965, Ruthann Knudson married her fellow graduate student, Creighton Thomas Shay. The couple moved to Ft. Collins, Colorado, in 1966 after Shay secured a faculty position at the University of Northern Colorado. Knudson held the role of anthropology instructor at the university from 1966 to 1977. During this time, she engaged in various excavations and field projects between 1966 and 1968. Unfortunately, Knudson and Shay divorced in 1968.
In 1968, Knudson commenced her Ph.D. in anthropology, focusing on quaternary studies, at Washington State University, working under the guidance of Dr. Richard Daugherty. During her time at Washington State University, Knudson married archaeologist W. Raymond Wood. However, their union was short-lived and ended in divorce a year later. In 1973, Ruthann Knudson completed her Ph.D. and successfully defended her dissertation on the MacHaffie and Plainview Paleoindian lithic assemblages.
Having obtained her Ph.D., Knudson established her own cultural resource management consulting firm, named Paleo-Designs. Simultaneously, she joined the University of Idaho as an instructor in 1974, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in anthropology and archaeology. Her expertise and dedication were recognized when she received a grant from the National Science Foundation to analyze and report on the Red Smoke site in southwestern Nebraska.
From 1978 to 1981, Ruthann Knudson played an integral role in the Dolores Archaeological Project. Her involvement in the project extended beyond mere participation, as she contributed to formulating project plans and lithic design strategies. In 1981, Knudson took on a new role as a senior scientist at Woodward-Clyde Consultants, an environmental consulting firm. She established the cultural resource management division at their San Francisco office, solidifying her influence and expertise in the field.
Throughout her career, Knudson was an outspoken advocate for the accurate representation of women in reservoir salvage archaeology. She believed it was essential to recognize and highlight the contributions of women in the field and to address the imbalance in historical narratives. In addition to her advocacy work, Ruthann Knudson dedicated herself to comprehensive research and excavation, focusing on North American Paleoindian lithics.
Ruthann Knudson’s contributions to the drafting and promotion of the National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 1980 were crucial in ensuring the protection and preservation of cultural resources across the United States. Her dedication and expertise had a lasting impact on the field of archaeology, and her legacy continues to inspire new generations of researchers and advocates.