Luther Sheeleigh Cressman (October 24, 1897 – April 4, 1994) was an American field archaeologist, most widely known for his discoveries at Paleo-Indian sites such as Fort Rock Cave and Paisley Caves, sites related to the early settlement of the Americas.

[1] Feeling doubts about his vocation, he began studying sociology and anthropology at Columbia University in New York.

He was the first professional archaeologist to excavate the Paisley Caves in 1938[3] and this research became his most significant discovery, when at the same year he discovered a pair of perfectly preserved shredded sagebrush bark sandals at Fort Rock in Oregon that were radiocarbon dated from 10,500 to 9,300 years old, making them the oldest footwear ever discovered.

They were peers by PhDs so it would have been all right to use his first name but since Cressman was greatly senior he said it didn't seem right to call him Lou, and left it there.

A memorial service was held at Gerlinger Hall on the UO campus on April 21 of that year.