Michael “Mike” Glassow, a pioneering and transformative archaeologist, succumbed at age 85 to bladder cancer on Dec. 17, 2025.
Born on May 2, 1940, in Madison, Wisconsin. Mike was a leading figure in California archaeology, and a passionate advocate for Cultural Resource Management (CRM) and heritage conservation.
Mike began his career journey in the American Southwest, influenced by reading two books in his Grand Rapids High School library: Ann Axtell Morris’ “Digging in the Southwest,” and Kathleen Kenyon’s “Beginning in Archaeology.”
He said that is what stimulated his interest in archaeology that he pursued from New Mexico to California. He received his BA, MA and Ph.D from UCLA.
At the end, Mike contributed his body the UCLA Donated Body Program for the education of future MDs.
Starting the Archaeology Club at Santa Monica City College, he transferred to UCLA with a focus on California and the American Southwest while he worked at Philmont, gathering his research data while running a scout program for his dissertation.
Hired by the UCSB Anthropology Department in 1969, Mike served as department chair (2002-05). He remained deeply engaged in campus service and the UC Natural Reserve System, particularly Santa Cruz Island.
His research and teaching focused on California archaeology and the Channel Islands, and mentoring students was the most rewarding aspect of his career.
Over four decades at UCSB, he guided numerous MA and Ph.D students, published hundreds of works, and continued mentoring as emeritus after retiring in 2009. In retirement, he co-led archaeological tours to Vandenberg and Santa Cruz Island.
Mike’s final book will be published by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History as posthumous volume, “Santa Barbara’s Ancient Past.” This will be the first comprehensive survey of Santa Barbara’s past published by the museum since Roger’s publication in 1929.
Michael Glassow’s contributions go beyond the academy at UCSB. He served as the archaeological advisor for the city of Santa Barbara Landmarks Commission starting in 1991, passing his position on in March 2025.
From 1975-2009, he was coordinator of the California Office of Historic Preservation’s Central Coast Information Center. He helped develop a model for a state Cultural Resources Protection Plan, sponsored by the California Office of Historic Preservation.
Mike was a member of the Advisory Council and Collections and Research Committee, and was a research associate in Anthropology at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
Active in professional associations, Michael served as president for the Society for California Archaeology and Society of Professional Archaeologists; vice president of the Society for California Archaeology; secretary of the Society for American Archaeology; and promoted Cultural Resource Management (CRM) and heritage conservation in the discipline.
He was responsible for the guidelines for site significance evaluation for the U.S. Interagency Archaeological Services; served as a volunteer consultant for the development of cultural resource management plan for Admiralty Island National Park; and was on the advisory committee to the Radiocarbon Laboratory, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Riverside.
An avid photographer, Mike’s unique perspective was shared in his research as well as his travels.
Thoughtful and generous, Mike enjoyed collecting and repairing old clocks and crafting home improvement. His practical ingenuity and creativity resolved problems in houses and the field.
Mike positioned Cultural Resource Management at the forefront of his discipline, initially with the Vandenberg project in 1974, a pivotal time for the CRM industry. His advocacy influenced policy and practice in preserving heritage in a time of growth and development.
Mike promoted a cultural ecological framework, shifting the focus from simple artifact collection to understanding the relationship between prehistoric human populations and their environment.
Mike is survived by his archaeological partner of over 50 years Anabel Ford; his brother Jonathan Glassow and family; and niece Laura Glassow.
No memorial will be held; a celebration of life is planned for May.