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George Edwin Stuart III (April 2, 1935 – June 11, 2014) was an American archaeologist, cartographer, and scholar best known for his contributions to Mesoamerican and Maya archaeology. He was a long-time staff archaeologist and chair of the National Geographic Society's Committee for Research and Exploration, where he played a significant role in funding and advancing archaeological research. Stuart's work as a scholar, editor, and writer significantly shaped public understanding of Maya culture and New World archaeology.

Early life and education

George Stuart was born on April 2, 1935, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and raised in Camden, South Carolina. He earned a B.A. in geology from the University of South Carolina in 1956 and later completed an M.A. at George Washington University in 1970. Stuart earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1975. His dissertation, titled The Post-Archaic Occupation of Central South Carolina, focused on the archaeology of central South Carolina, reflecting his early interest in Southeastern U.S. archaeology. During his doctoral studies, he worked under the guidance of Professor Joffre Lanning Coe.

Career

Stuart joined the National Geographic Society (NGS) as a staff archaeologist in 1960, eventually becoming a senior research cartographer and later senior assistant editor for archaeology at National Geographic Magazine. From 1994 to 1998, he chaired the NGS Committee for Research and Exploration, funding numerous archaeological projects, particularly in Mesoamerica. His notable contributions included cartographic works like the "Archaeological Map of Middle America: Land of the Feathered Serpent" (1968).

Stuart co-directed the Coba Archaeological Mapping Project in Quintana Roo, Mexico and played a significant role in advancing the study of Maya hieroglyphs. His publications, including *The Mysterious Maya* (1977) and *Lost Kingdoms of the Maya* (1993), shaped public and scholarly understanding of Mesoamerican cultures.

Publications

Stuart authored and co-authored several books, including:

• Discovering Man's Past in the Americas (1969)
• The Mysterious Maya (1977)
• Lost Kingdoms of the Maya (1993)
• Palenque: Eternal City of the Maya (2008) (co-authored with David Stuart)
• Archaeology and You (1996)
• Quest for Decipherment: A Historical and Technical Analysis of Maya Hieroglyphs (1992)

Contributions to archaeology

Stuart's legacy includes founding the Research Reports on Ancient Maya Writing, a monograph series that facilitated Maya hieroglyphic studies. In 1997, he established the Boundary End Archaeology Research Center in Barnardsville, North Carolina, providing a platform for continued research and publications after his retirement.

Personal life

Stuart was married twice: first to Gene S. Stuart, with whom he had four children, including the Maya epigrapher David Stuart. After Gene's passing in 1993, he married Melinda Young Frye in 1994. Stuart was an avid bibliophile, donating his extensive 15,000-volume library to the University of North Carolina's Wilson Library in 2006.

Death

Stuart died at his home in Barnardsville, North Carolina, on June 11, 2014, at the age of 79.

References

1. ^ Hammond, Norman (January 2015). "In Memoriam: Dr. George Stuart". SAA Archaeological Record. 15 (1): 43–44.
2. ^ "George Stuart: National Geographic's Staff Archaeologist, Editor, and Maya Scholar". National Geographic Adventure. June 12, 2014. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
3. Stuart, George E. (1975). The Post-Archaic Occupation of Central South Carolina (PDF). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
4. Stuart, George E.; Stuart, Gene S.; National Geographic Society (U.S.). Special Publications Division (1977). The Mysterious Maya. National Geographic Society. ISBN 978-0-87044-233-9.
5. Chamberlin, W., Grazzini, A. D., & Stuart, G. E. (1968). Archeological map of Middle America : land of the feathered serpent. National Geographic Society.
6. "Coba". Peabody Museum. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
7. "Mission". Boundary End. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
8. "George Stuart Obituary (2014) - Barnardsville, NC - Asheville Citizen-Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
9. "George E. Stuart collection of archaeological and other materials, 1733-2006". ArchiveGrid. Retrieved 2025-01-05.

See also

• Maya civilization

• 1935 births
• 2014 deaths
• American archaeologists
• Mesoamerican archaeologists
• Cartographers
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni
• University of South Carolina alumni
• George Washington University alumni
• Mayanists
• People from Glen Ridge, New Jersey
• People from Camden, South Carolina
• 20th-century archaeologists