AIA News

August 21, 2024

In Memory of Patty Jo Watson


It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Patty Jo Watson, professor emerita in anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis and a member of the AIA for almost two decades. Patty passed away on Thursday, August 1, 2024, in Arlington, Massachusetts at the age of 92. Patty made significant contributions to the field and will always be remembered for her outstanding work. She was the recipient of two of the AIA’s most prestigious awards: The Pomerance Award for Scientific Contributions to Archaeology in 2007 and the Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Archaeological Achievement in 1999.

As a community, we share in the grief of Patty’s family, colleagues, students, and friends during this difficult time. Patty will be deeply missed, and her legacy as a pioneer in ethnoarchaeology will continue to inspire us all.

For the complete obituary shared by Washington University, you can find it here.

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