Jim Fitting has been involved in anthropology for a number of years. He graduated from Michigan State University with his B.A. in 1960 and went on to get his Master’s Degree and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Jim got his first job teaching Anthropology at Wayne State University shortly before receiving his Ph.D.
He has held a few positions since that time including Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Michigan and Curator of Archaeology at the Museum of Anthropology. He was in the U.S. Army Reserve for a period of eight years spanning from 1957-1965. He was an Associate Professor from 1968-1970 at Case Western Reserve University and a Professor of Anthropology from 1970-1972.
He is a member of the American Anthropological Association, the Society of American Archaeology, the A.A.A.S., and the Society for Historical Archaeology.
Jim has worked most recently on settlement pattern excavations and cultural geography at the Kaminaljuyu Site in Guatemala and in the Cliff Valley of New Mexico. He has published articles in prestigious journals; based on information that he collected from his research at different archaeological sites. He seems to center his writings and research on the settlement patterns and archaeology in the Great Lakes region, but also has done research in other parts of the world.
Jim authored The Archaeology of Michigan which was published in 1970. He was the Editor of the Michigan Archaeologist from 1964-1968. He also helped edit and contributed to journals and papers like Studies in the Natural Radioactivity of Prehistoric Materials from the Museum of Anthropology at the University of Michigan in 1965 and an article seemingly written in memory of another anthropologist in the Michigan Archaeological Society in 1965.
Contemporary Authors Volumes 45-48. Ed.Clare D. Kinsman. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1974.
Who’s Who in the Midwest 14th Edition. Marquis Who’s Who Inc. Chicago, 1974.
Written by: Students in an Introduction to Anthropology Class, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minnesota 2001