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Ralph Solecki

1917 – 2019

American archaeologist

Archaeologist PrehistorianAnthropologist
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About Ralph Solecki

Lived 1917 – 2019 (aged 101). Ralph Solecki was an American archaeologist, prehistorian and anthropologist.

Ralph Stefan Solecki (October 15, 1917 – March 20, 2019) was an American archaeologist.

From 1959 to 1988, he was a member of the faculty at Columbia University. His best-known excavations were at the Neanderthal site at Shanidar Cave, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. His publications include early works on aerial photography and photo-interpretation as well as two volumes on Shanidar (1971, 1972).

He was married to fellow archaeologist Rose Solecki, and they were the parents of American geographer William Solecki and UNHCR official John Solecki. In 2013, he was interviewed about his work by The Wall Street Journal.

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Important facts

Born
15 October 1917, Brooklyn
Birth century
20th century
Died
20 March 2019, Livingston
Occupation
Archaeologist, prehistorian, anthropologist
Nationality
United States
Also known as
Ralph Stefan Solecki

Family & relationships

Spouse
Rose Solecki

People in Ralph Solecki's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Portrait of John
John
1881 – 1963
Latin Catholic priest

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Ralph Solecki's

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1877 – 1968
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Mathematician
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Henry Norris Russell
1877 – 1957
Astronomer
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James Hopwood Jeans
1877 – 1946
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Louis Renault
1877 – 1944
Inventor
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Victor Ernest Shelford
1877 – 1968
Zoologist

Frequently asked questions

Who was Ralph Solecki?

American archaeologist (1917–2019)

When was Ralph Solecki born?

Ralph Solecki was born on 15 October 1917 in Brooklyn.

When did Ralph Solecki die?

Ralph Solecki died on 20 March 2019 in Livingston.

What was Ralph Solecki's occupation?

Ralph Solecki was an archaeologist, prehistorian and anthropologist.

What nationality was Ralph Solecki?

Ralph Solecki was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Ralph Solecki

· Wikidata: Q7288105

· DBpedia: Ralph Solecki

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ralph Solecki. https://biography.guide/ralph-solecki/

MLA: "Ralph Solecki." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ralph-solecki/.

Chicago: "Ralph Solecki." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ralph-solecki/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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