Description: (Anthropologist)
J. Eric S. Thompson, a prominent English Mesoamerican archaeologist, ethnohistorian, and epigrapher, significantly influenced Maya studies in the United States. He excelled in deciphering the Maya script until the 1960s, making substantial contributions to our understanding of the ancient Maya civilization. Thompson's research and work were instrumental in advancing the fields of Mesoamerican archaeology, epigraphy, and ethnohistory, establishing him as a leading figure in these disciplines with a lasting impact.