Early Life and Career Change: Born in Kentucky in 1855, Fowke initially worked as a bookkeeper and clerk before taking a detour into teaching. However, a course in geology and archaeology at Ohio State University in 1881 sparked a lifelong passion.
Focus on Native American Mounds: From 1885 onwards, Fowke dedicated himself to studying Native American mounds across the eastern United States. He worked for the Smithsonian Institution and later explored sites in Canada and Siberia, searching for evidence of early migration patterns.
Travels and Research: His research took him to various locations, including Vancouver Island, the Amur River in Siberia, and Vladivostok. He collaborated with other researchers like Berthold Laufer on these expeditions.