Statement of Tribute and Mourning: Dr. Roy L. Carlson

It is with profound sadness that the Department of Archaeology at Simon Fraser University announces the passing of Dr. Roy L. Carlson, a foundational figure in our institution and a giant in Pacific Northwest archaeology.

Roy's legacy is forever intertwined with the very existence of our department. In 1969, he spearheaded the initiative to establish the Department of Archaeology at SFU, which was officially founded in 1971. Appointed as a Professor that same year, he went on to serve as our Department Chair for the better part of 15 years. Roy poured his incredible energy and administrative abilities into our growth, helping build one of the largest and most influential archaeology programs in Canada. He also founded the SFU Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, initiated our field school program, and launched SFU Archaeology Press.  Our department truly owes its origins, development, and current standing to his visionary foresight and dedication.

Beyond his leadership, Roy was an internationally respected scholar and a beloved mentor. He became widely recognized as an expert on the archaeology of the Northwest Coast of North America. Over his 28 years teaching at SFU, he instructed thousands of students with an engaging, experiential approach, directing multiple field schools in British Columbia, and even taking his entire Northwest Coast archaeology class to a potlatch at Bella Coola. He was equally effective in graduate supervision, serving as a senior supervisor for 20 MA and 9 PhD students, and mentoring countless others who went on to shape the Canadian archaeological community.

Roy's work was not limited to the Pacific Northwest, his 1961 University of Arizona PhD dissertation is one of the most important contributions to the literature on late pre-Hispanic ceramics in the US Southwest and the published version is among the most cited works devoted to US-SW archaeology. Patrick Lyons (Director of the Arizona State Museum) notes that Roy “laid the groundwork for using ceramic technology and style to track ancient migrations of people from the Kayenta region and was among the first to see strong connections between the Kayenta diaspora and the rise and spread of the Salado phenomenon.” Roy also contributed to studies of Mimbres ceramic iconography, among other topics.

Honoured in 1995 with the prestigious Smith-Wintemberg Award from the Canadian Archaeological Association for his exemplary contributions to the discipline, Roy’s impact as an archaeologist, scholar, administrator, and teacher remains unmatched. We mourn the loss of our founder and colleague, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the many students whose lives he touched. He will be greatly missed.