- Stephen D. Houston
Stephen D. Houston (pronounced /ˈhaʊstən/ "HOW-stin") (b.
November 11 ,1958 ) [cite linked authority file|id=n82-260082|accessdate=2008-05-15] is an Americananthropologist ,archaeologist ,epigrapher andMayanist scholar, who is particularly renowned for his research into thepre-Columbian Maya civilization ofMesoamerica . He is the author of a number of papers and books concerning topics such as theMaya script , the history, kingships and dynastic politics of the pre-Columbian Maya, and archaeological reports on several Maya archaeological sites.Houston is currently (2007) Professor in the Department of Anthropology at
Brown University ,Providence, Rhode Island . [The Directory of Research and Researchers at Brown (n.d.)]Early life and undergraduate studies
Stephen D. Houston was born in
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania . ["Ibid."] In 1976 he commenced undergraduate studies at theUniversity of Pennsylvania ,Philadelphia inanthropology . From 1978–79 he spent a year as anexchange student at Edinburgh University,Scotland , where he participated in his first field trips, excavatingMesolithic andNeolithic bog sites in Offaly and Mayo counties,Éire , and at aBronze Age henge nearStrathallan , Scotland. ["Curriculum Vitae", pp.2, 6.]Graduate studies and research
Returning to Penn, Houston graduated "
summa cum laude " in 1980 with aB.A. in Anthropology. He then entered the graduate studies program atYale University , undertaking aMaster of Philosophy (Anthropology) research degree, which was awarded in 1983. During this time he took a position of curatorial assistant at thePeabody Museum of Natural History , followed by a position as a Teaching Fellow at Yale. Specialising in archaeological and epigraphic Maya studies, Houston participated in several field trips recording Mayastela e and inscriptions in Guatemala, Belize and Mexico (Bonampak ), and held the first of various research Fellowships. ["Curriculum Vitae", pp.3–6.]After completing his M.Phil., Houston worked towards completing his
Ph.D in Anthropology at Yale, which was awarded (with Distinction) in 1987. During this period he worked as an epigrapher on an archaeological project at the site ofCaracol , Belize, and served as Director on a project mapping theDos Pilas site in thePetexbatun region,Pasión River , Guatemala, spending several months at a time in fieldwork for these positions. The work at Dos Pilas was expanded into hisdissertation , "The Inscriptions and Monumental Art of Dos Pilas, Guatemala: A Study of Classic Maya History and Politics." ["Curriculum Vitae", pp.5–6, 10.]Prior to joining Brown University's faculty Houston held the Jesse Knight chair at
Brigham Young University .On 23 September 2008, the
MacArthur Foundation announced that Professor Houston was one of the recipients of its 'genius' awards.Notes
References
*cite web|title="Curriculum Vitae", Stephen D. Houston |year=n.d. |url=http://research.brown.edu/myresearch/Stephen_D._Houston |format=
PDF |publisher=Brown Research|accessdate=2007-01-08
*cite web|author=The Directory of Research and Researchers at Brown |year=n.d. |title=Stephen D. Houston (research profile) |url=http://research.brown.edu/research/profile.php?id=10172 |publisher=Brown Research |accessdate=2007-01-08External links
*
* [http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Anthropology/faculty/Houston.shtml Stephen D. Houston] , entry at faculty of Anthropology, Brown University.
* [http://www.macfound.org/fellows/2008/houston Stephen Houston] , entry on the MacArthur Foundation website
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