Joyce Marcus facts for kids

Joyce Marcus is a well-known archaeologist and a professor. She teaches in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Michigan. She also works as a curator for Latin American Archaeology at the University of Michigan Museum.

Dr. Marcus has written many books and articles. Her work focuses on ancient civilizations in Central and South America. She has studied the Zapotec, Maya, and coastal Andean peoples. Much of her field research has been in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico. She is famous for her "Dynamic model" and for using many different subjects in her studies.

About Joyce Marcus

Joyce Marcus was born in California. She went to Beverly Hills High School. A book about Maya hieroglyphs inspired her. This happened after she worked in Lovelock, Nevada, in 1969.

She earned her first degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1969. Later, she received her master's degree in 1971. She completed her Ph.D. in 1974. Both advanced degrees were from Harvard University. Her mentors included Tatiana Proskouriakoff and Gordon Willey. Her book, Emblem and State in the Classic Maya Lowlands, came from her Ph.D. research.

Teaching and Research

Dr. Marcus has taught at the University of Michigan since 1973. She has also given guest lectures around the world. In 1978, she became a curator for Latin American Archaeology. This role is at the University of Michigan Museum of Anthropology.

She has also advised other museums. These include the American Museum of Natural History in New York. She also worked with the University Museum at the University of Pennsylvania.

Honors and Memberships

In 1997, Dr. Marcus was chosen for the National Academy of Sciences. This is a very important honor. In 2005, she became the first archaeologist on its council. The University of Michigan also gave her a special professor title in 2005.

She is a member of many important groups. These include the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She is also part of the American Philosophical Society. She belongs to the American Anthropological Association.

Funding and Fieldwork

Joyce Marcus has received money for her research. This funding came from groups like the National Endowment for the Humanities. The National Science Foundation also supported her work.

In 1983-1984, she recorded Maya monuments. This work was done at Calakmul, Campeche. She often works with her husband, Kent V. Flannery. Together, they led the Valley of Oaxaca Human Ecology Project. This was a long-term study at the University of Michigan.

Awards and Recognition

Joyce Marcus has received many awards for her important work:

• 1979: The Henry Russel Award for Scholarly Research from the University of Michigan.
• 1992: An honorable mention for her book Mesoamerican Writing Systems.
• 1995: Excellence in Research Award from the University of Michigan.
• 1998-2005: Named Elman R Service Professor of Cultural Evolution.
• 2005: Named Robert L. Carneiro Distinguished University Professor.
• 2001: The Premio Caniem en el Arte Editorial award in Mexico. This was for her book about the Zapotec civilization, co-written with Kent Flannery.
• 2003: Special recognition from Universidad Autónoma de Campeche.
• 2007: Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award from the University of Michigan.
• 2008: The Cotson Book Prize in archaeology for Excavations at Cerro Azul, Peru.
• 2014: Became a corresponding fellow of the Academia Mexicana de la Historia.

See also

In Spanish: Joyce Marcus para niños