New World Archaeological Foundation
Encyclopedia
The New World Archaeological Foundation (NWAF) is an archaeological organization run by Brigham Young University
.
The NWAF was organized in 1952 for the purpose of supporting archaeological research into pre-Columbian
cultures of Mesoamerica
. It was founded by Thomas Stuart Ferguson, Alfred V. Kidder
and Harvard University
professor Gordon Willey
. It was initially incorporated in California as a private organization with Ferguson in charge of fund-raising. The first project by the NWAF was headed by Pedro Armillas
with archaeological studies along the Grijalva River
.
As early as 1953 the NWAF received funding from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However it has always remained an archaeological foundation that includes many people not members of that church and does not attempt to address issues related to the Book of Mormon
. Initially the only Latter-day Saint on the Foundation's advisory committee of five was M. Wells Jakeman
. It also included Kidder, Willey, Armillas and Gordon F. Eckholm.
The NWAF became part of BYU in 1961.
The foundation has since been heavily involved with archaeological studies at such locations as Izapa
, San Isidro
, El Mirador
, Paso de la Amada
, and most recently again at Chiapa de Corzo
.
As of 2009 the NWAF was directed by Donald W. Forsyth, Professor of Anthropology at Brigham Young University. He succeeded John E. Clark
who was the director for many years.
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
.
The NWAF was organized in 1952 for the purpose of supporting archaeological research into pre-Columbian
Pre-Columbian
The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continents, spanning the time of the original settlement in the Upper Paleolithic period to European colonization during...
cultures of Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica is a region and culture area in the Americas, extending approximately from central Mexico to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, within which a number of pre-Columbian societies flourished before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and...
. It was founded by Thomas Stuart Ferguson, Alfred V. Kidder
Alfred V. Kidder
Alfred Vincent Kidder was an American archaeologist considered the foremost of the southwestern United States and Mesoamerica during the first half of the 20th century...
and Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
professor Gordon Willey
Gordon Willey
Gordon Randolph Willey was an American archaeologist famous for his fieldwork in South and Central America as well as the southeastern United States...
. It was initially incorporated in California as a private organization with Ferguson in charge of fund-raising. The first project by the NWAF was headed by Pedro Armillas
Pedro Armillas
Pedro Armillas Garcia was Spanish academic anthropologist, archaeologist, and an influential pre-Columbian Mesoamerica scholar of the mid-20th century. As an archaeologist he was known both for his fieldwork and excavations at numerous sites in central and northern Mexico, and his contributions in...
with archaeological studies along the Grijalva River
Grijalva River
Grijalva River, formerly known as Tabasco River. is a 480 km long river in southeastern Mexico. It is named after Juan de Grijalva who visited the area in 1518. The river rises in Chiapas highlands and flows from Chiapas to the state of Tabasco through the Sumidero Canyon into the Bay of...
.
As early as 1953 the NWAF received funding from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However it has always remained an archaeological foundation that includes many people not members of that church and does not attempt to address issues related to the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
. Initially the only Latter-day Saint on the Foundation's advisory committee of five was M. Wells Jakeman
M. Wells Jakeman
Max Wells Jakeman was the founder of the department of archaeology at Brigham Young University and an early member of the advisory board of the New World Archaeology Foundation . Jakeman has been described as "the father of Book of Mormon archaeology".Jakeman received his Ph.D...
. It also included Kidder, Willey, Armillas and Gordon F. Eckholm.
The NWAF became part of BYU in 1961.
The foundation has since been heavily involved with archaeological studies at such locations as Izapa
Izapa
Izapa is a very large pre-Columbian archaeological site located in the Mexican state of Chiapas; it was occupied during the Late Formative period. The site is situated on the Izapa River, a tributary of the Suchiate River, near the base of the Tacaná volcano), the fourth largest mountain in...
, San Isidro
San Isidro
Isidro and Ysidro are Spanish forms of the personal name Isidore. San Isidro or San Ysidro may refer to:-People:* Agot Isidro , Filipina actress...
, El Mirador
El Mirador
El Mirador is a large pre-Columbian Mayan settlement, located in the north of the modern department of El Petén, Guatemala.-Discovery:El Mirador was first discovered in 1926, and was photographed from the air in 1930, but the remote site deep in the jungle had little more attention paid to it until...
, Paso de la Amada
Paso de la Amada
Paso de la Amada is an archaeological site in the Mexican state of Chiapas on the Gulf of Tehuantepec, in the Soconusco region of Mesoamerica. This site was occupied during the Early Formative era, from about 1800 BCE to 1000 BCE, and covered approximately 50 hectares of land.Paso de la Amada is...
, and most recently again at Chiapa de Corzo
Chiapa de Corzo
Chiapa de Corzo may refer to:*Chiapa de Corzo - a Mesomerican archaeological site located in the Chiapas highlands, Mexico*Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas - the modern township and municipality, central Chiapas, Mexico...
.
As of 2009 the NWAF was directed by Donald W. Forsyth, Professor of Anthropology at Brigham Young University. He succeeded John E. Clark
John E. Clark
John Edward Clark is an American archaeologist and academic researcher of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures. he holds a position as professor of anthropology at Brigham Young University , and is also the director of the New World Archaeology Foundation.Clark pursued undergraduate and...
who was the director for many years.