1. Thomas Jefferson: Father of American Archaeology

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At a time when archaeology was entirely wrapped up in haphazard artifact collecting under the banner of antiquarianism, Thomas Jefferson blazed a trail that would contribute to the transformation of treasure hunting antiquarianism into the science of archaeology. Through his curiosity and subsequent research, Jefferson posited a hypothesis, applied methodical digging techniques, provided qualitative and quantitative data, and published his conclusions in spite of current historical climates. A century ahead of its time, Jefferson’s research provided a foundational block for future archaeological research methods as well as marked the beginning of understanding ancient Native American culture and histories at the risk of his own reputation.