Bonnichsen, Robson

New perspectives on the First Americans
essay 2004

Summary: Robson Bonnichsen was an anthropologist who undertook pioneering research in First American studies, popularized the field and founded the Center for the Study of Early Man at the University of Maine (Orono) in 1981. Dr. Bonnichsen, an associate professor of Anthropology and Quaternary studies, created the Center and served as its first director. The establishment of the Center was made possible through a generous donation by the Bingham Trust. In 1990, the name of the Center was changed to the Center for the Study of the First Americans. In 1991, Dr. Bonnichsen moved the Center from Maine to Oregon State University in Corvallis. The Center relocated to its current home at Texas A&M University in the summer of 2002 to be in a more active academic setting with new education, research, and outreach opportunities. Dr. Bonnichsen served as the Center Director until his death in December 2004. Dr. Bonnichsen and his colleagues believed that humans colonized North America long before 11,000 years ago, when people of the Clovis culture left their signature artifacts in North America. Wikipedia
Gender or Sex: Male [1][2][3][4][5]
Born: 1940-12-03 [2][5]
Birth Place: Twin Falls, Ida. [3]
Died: 2004-12-25 [2][5]
Death Place: Bend, Or. [2]
Country: United States [2]
Language: English [3]
Occupation: anthropologist [5]
Yale LUX: Entity [5]

Sources: 1. VIAF; 2. Deutsche Nationalbibliothek (Germany); 3. Bibliothèque nationale de France; 4. Library of Congress; 5. Wikidata

Last updated Jan 9, 2026