Wirth was one of the most controversial prehistorians in Germany. He was nevertheless regarded as one of the most important prehistorians of his generation. He was past Vice President of the Southeast Asian Association of Prehistorians based in Jakarta. These authors helped to ignite a small craze in knapping among archaeologists and prehistorians. This statement was not enough to quell the skepticism of many prehistorians, however. The historian Adam Stout noted that Clark was "one of the century's most influential prehistorians".