Schuyler Jones, an American anthropologist and adventurer whose life bore striking parallels to the fictional character Indiana Jones, has passed away at the age of 94. His stepdaughter, Cassandra Da’Luz Vieira-Manion, announced his death on May 17, describing him as a “fascinating man who lived a lot of life around the world.”
Jones’ extraordinary life began in Wichita, Kansas, but quickly expanded to encompass the globe. He moved often in his childhood because of his father’s work supplying Army bases, which allowed him to visit every U.S. state before first grade. This early exposure to U.S. perhaps foreshadowed his future as a scholar and explorer.
Post-World War II, Jones embarked on a series of international adventures that would shape his career and persona. He worked as a photographer in Paris and spent four years in Africa, experiences that he chronicled in his 1956 book “Under the African Sun.” One particularly dramatic incident involved surviving a helicopter crash in an Algerian marketplace, an event he often recounted with a mixture of humor and dramatic detail that exemplified his adventurous spirit.
Jones’ pursuits in anthropology began after a journey through India, Nepal, and Afghanistan in 1958. His fascination with Afghan culture led him to Edinburgh University for anthropological studies, followed by doctoral research at Oxford University. His scholarly achievements culminated in his role as curator and later director of Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum, a position that allowed him to combine his passion for artifacts with his academic expertise.
The parallels between Schuyler Jones and the fictional Indiana Jones are numerous. Beyond the similarity in names, both shared a penchant for foreign languages, a preference for brown fedoras, and a belief that artifacts belong in museums.
Jones even wrote about his desire to find the Ark of the Covenant, mirroring a famous plot point in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
Despite these similarities, Jones maintained a distinct identity as a respected scholar and adventurer in his own right. His contributions to anthropology, particularly his studies of remote Afghan communities, earned him the Commander of the Order of the British Empire award upon his retirement.
Jones’ legacy extends beyond his academic achievements. He was known for his low tolerance of pretension and his approachability, traits that endeared him to students and colleagues alike. His life, spanning nearly a century, was marked by a relentless curiosity about the world and its cultures, embodying the spirit of exploration and scholarship that continues to inspire generations of anthropologists and adventurers.