Snarskis, Michael J.

Michael J. Snarskis

4/12/1945 - 1/22/2011

Former Cedar Rapids resident Michael J. Snarskis passed away Jan. 22, 2011, in San Jose, Costa Rica. Mr. Snarskis was 65 years old.

Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on April 12, 1945, to Edward and Alice Snarskis, Michael graduated from Washington High School in 1963. He received his B.A. degree from Yale University in 1967 and was in the Peace Corps for several years in Costa Rica, where he became interested in pre-Columbian archaeology. He returned to the United States, earning his Ph.D. from Columbia University and then returned to Costa Rica, where he lived and worked for more than 30 years, including time as director of the archaeological research program for the National Museum in San Jose as well as teaching at the University of Costa Rica. He also worked as an editor for the inter-American Institute for the Cooperation on Agriculture, and was the author of numerous articles on pre-Columbian archaeology.

Some of Mr. Snarskis's discoveries include the earliest chipped stone spear points of the Paleo-Indian period (10,000 years old) as well as the earliest know pottery from the Turrialba Valley of Costa Rica (35,000 years).

Mr. Snarskis is survived by his mother, Alice of Cedar Rapids; and a brother, John of Lake Oswego, Ore.

There will be no memorial service.