In Memoriam: Vorsila L. Bohrer

Noted Southwest ethnobotanist Vorsila L. Bohrer died on January 20, 2021, just two days short of her 90thbirthday. Vorsila’s commitment to Southwestern archaeology stems from her tour as one of Bertha Dutton’s Dirty Diggers (1947–1949). Her education, like her academic practice, was carefully cross-disciplinary: 

B.A. 1953 University of Arizona (Anthropology and Biology)
M.S. 1954 University of Michigan (Botany and Anthropology)
Ph.D. 1968 University of Arizona (Botany and Geochronology) 

Dr. Bohrer’s library, papers, and reference specimens are housed separately at the Arizona State Museum and the Arizona State Herbarium. Her formal teaching in botany, anthropology, and archaeology, was scattered across space and time (University of Arizona, Hanover College/ Indiana, University of Massachusetts, Eastern New Mexico University). Her real contribution to a subsequent generation of archaeobotanists largely took place in a mentoring role, as she led analytical efforts in several well-known projects (Arroyo Hondo, Fresnal Shelter, Salmon Ruins, Puerco Valley, La Ciudad) and many smaller ones. She was unusual in the breadth of skills and experience she brought to the practice of palynology, flotation, and macrobotanical remains. 

Dr. Bohrer had been in assisted living for several years in Portales, NM, coping with slow-moving Parkinson’s. A virtual remembrance and celebration is planned for March. Please contact mollie.toll@state.nm.us to join in.  

Another obituary is available from Wheeler Motuary of Portales, NM. 

Adapted from the New Mexico Archaeology list-serv posting

Anthro News Digest date: 02/19/2021