It saddens us deeply to share the recent passing of Mr. Steven Kohntopp, Trustee Emeritus of the Idaho Heritage Trust Board of Directors and pillar of Idaho’s historic and archaeological communities. (Mr. Kohntopp is on the left)
Mr. Kohntopp’s story had many chapters, beginning in Twin Falls where he was born, raised, and graduated from nearby Filer High School. He would go on to earn a degree in Business Administration with a minor in Geography from Central Washington University. Various opportunities led Mr. Kohntopp to reside in Pittsburgh, Seattle, Vancouver, and Portland, before eventually returning to his family farm in Filer to till the fields with his father. After turning over the day-to-day operations of the farm to some trusted family friends, Mr. Kohntopp embarked upon a successful career in real estate for many years.
In 2001, Mr. Kohntopp channeled his lifelong love of history into obtaining a Master’s Degree in Archaeology and Heritage from the University of Leicester in England and became a certified professional archaeologist and member of both the Society for American Archaeology and Archaeological Institute of America. Mr. Kohntopp was particularly entranced by the ancient artifacts of the enigmatic Clovis people, who’s culture peaked around 11,000 BCE and are considered progenitors of most indigenous American peoples. In addition to penning several articles on the subject, Mr. Kohntopp wrote The Simon Clovis Cache: One of the Oldest Archaeological Sites in Idaho, which was published by the center for the Study of the First Americans at Texas A&M University. The book chronicles the history of the find, the application of new scientific techniques to more accurately date the collection, and how this discovery informs our understanding of the archaeological record in Idaho, the United States, and throughout the world.
Mr. Kohntopp loved to travel to far-flung and adventurous places, often observing and participating in archaeological digs along the way. Our organization benefitted immensely from his rich, varied, and wide-ranging areas of experience and interest. In his free time, he was an avid sailor, scuba diver, and a devoted husband, friend, and family man. For those of you who were lucky enough to know him, you know the words above only scratch the surface of the remarkable person Mr. Kohntopp was. We join his family, friends, and members of the historical and archaeological communities in mourning the loss of a true Idaho gem.
