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Sylvanus Morley

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Sylvanus G. Morley was an American archaeologist, epigrapher, and Maya specialist who worked extensively in Mexico and Central America during the early twentieth century. For the Carnegie Institution of Washington, he directed a major program of excavation and restoration at Chichen Itza in Yucatan during the 1920s and 1930s. He also documented Maya inscriptions and calendrical texts, although later advances substantially revised parts of his interpretation of Maya writing.

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What ancient civilization did Sylvanus Morley study?

Sylvanus G. Morley was an American archaeologist who specialized in the study of the ancient Maya civilization. He worked extensively on excavations across Mexico and Central America during the early twentieth century.

What institution funded Sylvanus Morley's archaeological work?

Morley directed a massive program of excavation and restoration for the Carnegie Institution of Washington. This extensive program focused heavily on restoring the famous pyramid and temples at Chichen Itza.

Did Sylvanus Morley work as a spy during his career?

Yes, during World War I, Morley worked for the United States Office of Naval Intelligence. He used his archaeological expeditions in Central America as a cover to search for potential German submarine bases.

What was Morley's contribution to the study of Maya hieroglyphs?

Morley was a pioneering epigrapher who spent years traveling to document and record Maya stone inscriptions. He wrote extensive, multi-volume catalogs of glyphs that laid the crucial groundwork for future researchers to eventually decode the Maya writing system.