Richard D. Hansen
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Dr. Richard D. Hansen, Ph.D, is an American archaeologist and current Affiliate Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Idaho State University. Dr. Hansen is a specialist on the ancient Maya and also a director of the Mirador Basin Project, which investigates the mainly unexplored territory in Petén, northern Guatemala.[1][2]
[edit] Career
Hansen is founder and president of the non-profit Foundation for Anthropological Research and Environmental Studies (FARES). In December 2005 he was given the National Order of the Cultural Patrimony of Guatemala by the Guatemalan President, Oscar Berger. He has published over 83 papers, book and popular articles plus another 168 professional papers in scientific articles. He has conducted and directed archaeological research across the world from Israel, the U.S. Great Basin, the U.S. Southwest, and Central America.
Most of his achievements have been gained in the Mesoamerican region and Mayan civilizations. In 1989, discoveries by Hansen and his colleagues established the idea that ancient Maya rulers had centralized their roles far earlier than once supposed, building several massive centers with the help of commoners as early as 600 B.C. The classic Maya culture's history lasted for more than 1,000 years, ending around A.D. 850 with the collapse of the use of ceremonial centers in what are now parts of Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.[3]
For the 2006 Mel Gibson film Apocalypto, Hansen worked as a historical consultant.
