Don was truly preeminent in the field of lithic technology…he had a tremendous influence on specialist in the field, and his work will continue to provide a basis of future studies. (Wormington in Plew et al. 1985:viii). 

Crabtree may not be the first person who comes to mind when the broad subfield of experimental archaeology is discussed.  However, over the span of his life, he was able to touch all of the critical components that arguably laid the ground work for a broader understanding of experiment in archaeology. As a master knapper, he was uniquely able to explore technological questions that required experimental knowledge. Over his life, he was also able to share his ideas and gain experience from world renowned lithic researchers such as Bordes and gain insights from Kroeber, one of the few Anthropologists who had a direct relationship with Ishi, the last surviving member of the Yana people of northern California and one of the last Native Americans that had lived in relative isolation to American expansion. 

Don Crabtree was a non-traditional researcher; only taking one semester of college education,  but through his own enthusiasm, he was able to work with notable archaeologists over his 50 years of active research. He was known to dislike public speaking and academic publication though his influence produced numerous academic papers. In the 1930s, his interests in flintknapping and paleontology brought him into institutional laboratories of UC Berkeley, where he was a technician and consultant. Unfortunately, cancer took him away from his work at Berkeley but during his unlikely recovery, he continued to hone his skills in lithic technology. Before World War II he became a consultant for several universities where he demonstrated his techniques and provided insight to the artifacts found at many sites.  It was during this time that he became involved in the Ohio Historical Society’s Lithic Laboratory, a short lived, but highly influential school in lithic technology. 
After the war, Crabtree was employed as a governmental supervisor though he continued his knapping.  In 1958, he became involved with Earl Swanson Jr. of Idaho State University.  This partnership lead Crabtree to receive international recognition.  In 1964 he was invited to a world conference of lithic analysts and flintknappers.   This conference solidified Crabtree’s reputation as world renowned lithic technologist and it introduced him to his lifelong friend leading lithic expert, Francois Bordes. 

Given his discomfort in writing for academic journals, much of American archaeology did not recognize his contributions.  It was not until his publications in the Idaho State University Museum journal, Tebiwa, did his ideas begin to circulate in the US.  After this series of publications with world renowned researchers, Crabtree became a household name, and in 1969 the Idaho State University and National Science Foundation founded a Flintworking School with Crabtree as the primary instructor.   The ‘Crabtree School’ became very influential, with 33 pupils during the summers of 1969 to 1975, many of whom went on to produce dissertations on lithic technology and to teach the methods and techniques of lithic analysis across the country (Knudsen 1982).  In his later years, he became very interested in the lithics of Mesoamerica.  Though he did not produce any publications himself, his presence and input at the 1976 Mayan lithics conference led to the subsequent edited volume of the event, which was dedicated to him. 

Don Crabtree is widely known for his audiovisual flintknapping demonstrations but he did not produce any knappers rivaling his own skill.  However, through his teaching and demonstrations he inspired and influenced several generations of academics, analysts, flintknappers, and avocational archaeologists.  In honor of his many achievements, the ‘uneducated’ small town Crabtree received an honorary doctorate from the University of Idaho in 1980.  To highlight his devotion and passion to his work, he donated his entire collection of experimental materials, publications, and research to the University of Idaho so future scholar have the opportunity to study and analyze his work.

Knudson, R. (1982) Obituary: Don E. Crabtree, 1912-1980. American Antiquity 47(2):336-343.

Wormington, H.M. (1985) Foreward. In Stone Tool Analysis: Essays in Honor of Don E. Crabtree, edited by M. G. Plew, J. C. Woods and M. G. Pavesic. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.

Crabtree's Notable Publications:

Crabtree, D.E. (1966) A Stoneworker's Approach to Analyzing and Replicating the Lindenmeier Folsom. Tebiwa 10(1):3-39.

Crabtree, D.E. (1967) Notes on Experiments in Flintkanppnig: 3- the Flintknapper's Raw Material. Tebiwa 10(1):8-24.

Crabtree, D.E. (1967) Notes on Experiments in Flintkanppnig: 4- Tools Used for Making Flaked Stone Artifacts. Tebiwa 10(1):60-73.

Crabtree, D.E. (1968) Mesoamerican Polyhedral Cores and Prismatic Blades. American Antiquity 33(4):446-478.

Crabtree, D.E. (1970) Flaking Stone with Wooden Implements. Science 169:146-153.

Crabtree, D.E. (1972) An Introduction to Flintworking. Occasional Papers No. 28. Idaho State Museum, Pocatello.

Crabtree, D.E. (1972) The Cone Fracture Principle and the Manufacture of Lithic Materials. Tebiwa 15(2):29-42.

Crabtree, D.E. (1973) Experiments in Replicating Hohokam Points. Tebiwa 16(1):10-45.

Crabtree, D.E. (1973) The Obtuse Angle as a Functional Edge. Tebiwa 16(1):46-53.

Crabtree, D.E. (1974) Grinding and Smoothing of Stone Artifacts. Tebiwa 17(1):1-6.

Crabtree, D.E. and B.R. Butler (1964) Notes on Experiments in Flintkanppnig: 1- Heat Treatment of Silica Materials. Tebiwa 7(1):1-6.

Crabtree, D.E. and E.L. Davis (1968) Experimental Manufacture of Wooden Implements with Tools of Flaked Stone. Science 159:426-428.

Crabtree, D.E. and E.H. Swanson (1968) Edge-Ground Cobbles and Blade-Making in the Northwest. Tebiwa 11(2):50-54.