Nelson, Nels Christian (1875-1964)

Danish-born anthropologist. He pioneered stratigraphic excavation techniques in his extensive international fieldwork and promoted the hypothesis of age-and-area, the outward diffusion of human culture.

Nelson was born near Fredericia, Jutland, Denmark. He emigrated to the USA in 1892. Joining the American Museum of Natural History in 1912, he was curator of prehistoric archaeology (1928-43).