Charles C. Di Peso
Encyclopedia
Charles Corradino Di Peso (October 20, 1920 Missouri
, U.S.A. – 1982) was an American
archaeologist. He is known for his research in Northern Mexico
and the American Southwest.
. Both of these were headed by the Field Museum in Chicago
.
Di Peso earned a B.A in anthropology and a B.S. in geology from Beloit College
in 1942.
After graduation Di Peso joined the U.S. Air Force and was a pilot during World War II
and was discharged in 1946. During his time in the Air Force Di Peso was stationed in Phoenix, Arizona
where he lived after the war becoming the archaeologist for the city.
In 1947 Di Peso received a B.F.T. from the American Institute of Foreign Trade. He received his M.A.
from the University of Arizona
in 1950 and earned his PhD
from there in 1953 becoming the first student at that institution to earn that degree in anthropology. There, he was a student of the famous Southwest archaeologist Emil Haury
who influenced him greatly throughout his career.
Di Peso first worked for the Amerind Foundation
in 1948 and in 1954 became the director which he held until his death in 1982. Di Peso is best known for his excavation, analysis, and interpretation of archaeological materials from Paquimé, also known as Casas Grandes, beginning in 1959. According to Di Peso, Paquimé was established by Mesoamerican merchants in order to control trade between Mesoamerica and the Southwest. While this assertion continues to be controversial, Di Peso's work at Paquimé had the effect of drawing archaeologists' attention to a long-ignored part of North America.
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, U.S.A. – 1982) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
archaeologist. He is known for his research in Northern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and the American Southwest.
Biography
Di Peso's first field experience was at Ackmen, Colorado in 1937. In 1941 Di Peso returned to the field to conduct work in New MexicoNew Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. Both of these were headed by the Field Museum in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
Di Peso earned a B.A in anthropology and a B.S. in geology from Beloit College
Beloit College
Beloit College is a liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, and has an enrollment of roughly 1,300 undergraduate students. Beloit is the oldest continuously operated college in Wisconsin, and has the oldest building of any college...
in 1942.
After graduation Di Peso joined the U.S. Air Force and was a pilot during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was discharged in 1946. During his time in the Air Force Di Peso was stationed in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
where he lived after the war becoming the archaeologist for the city.
In 1947 Di Peso received a B.F.T. from the American Institute of Foreign Trade. He received his M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
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 1950 and earned his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from there in 1953 becoming the first student at that institution to earn that degree in anthropology. There, he was a student of the famous Southwest archaeologist Emil Haury
Emil Haury
Emil Walter "Doc" Haury was an influential archaeologist who specialized in the archaeology of the American Southwest....
who influenced him greatly throughout his career.
Di Peso first worked for the Amerind Foundation
Amerind Foundation
The Amerind Foundation is museum and research facility dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Native American cultures and their histories...
in 1948 and in 1954 became the director which he held until his death in 1982. Di Peso is best known for his excavation, analysis, and interpretation of archaeological materials from Paquimé, also known as Casas Grandes, beginning in 1959. According to Di Peso, Paquimé was established by Mesoamerican merchants in order to control trade between Mesoamerica and the Southwest. While this assertion continues to be controversial, Di Peso's work at Paquimé had the effect of drawing archaeologists' attention to a long-ignored part of North America.
Writings
- Di Peso, Charles C., 1974, Casas Grandes: A Fallen Trading Center of the Gran Chichimeca (Vols. 1-3). Amerind Foundation Publication No. 9. Northland Press, Flagstaff, Arizona.
- Di Peso, Charles C., John B. Rinaldo, and Gloria J. Fenner, 1974, Casas Grandes: A Fallen Trading Center of the Gran Chichimeca (Vols. 4–8). Amerind Foundation Publication No. 9. Northland Press, Flagstaff, Arizona.