Richard D. Hansen facts for kids
Richard D. Hansen is an American archaeologist who teaches anthropology at the University of Utah. He is an expert on the ancient Maya civilization.
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Exploring the Ancient Maya World
Richard Hansen leads the Mirador Basin Project. This project explores a special area in northern Petén, Guatemala, called the Mirador Basin. His team studies ancient Maya cities hidden in the rainforest.
Hansen has worked at other universities, including the University of California, Los Angeles. He also started a group called the Foundation for Anthropological Research and Environmental Studies (FARES).
His work has been shown in many TV shows and movies. He was a main helper for the movie Apocalypto and the TV show Survivor Guatemala. He also worked on National Geographic's The Story of God with Morgan Freeman.
In 2019, he received an award from the Guatemalan Ministry of Defense. People have called him "one of the 24 individuals that changed Latin America." His discoveries have greatly helped us understand how the Maya civilization grew.
Some groups in Guatemala have raised concerns about his ideas for protecting the Mirador-Calakmul Basin. They believe his plans might affect the land rights of local people.
About FARES
Richard Hansen is the founder and president of FARES. This group is a non-profit organization that does scientific research. It is based in Idaho.
His Education Journey
Richard Hansen studied at Brigham Young University. He earned two degrees there in 1978, one in Spanish and one in Archaeology. Later, in 1984, he got another degree in Anthropology.
He then went to UCLA for his Ph.D. in Archaeology. He finished his Ph.D. in 1992. During his studies, he received many special scholarships and honors.
Recognized for His Work
Richard Hansen has received many important awards for his archaeological work:
- In 2017, he received the Gran Cruz of the Order of Quetzal. This is the highest award a civilian can get in Guatemala. The President of Guatemala gave him this award.
- In 2019, he received the Orden de la Monja Blanca from Guatemala's Ministry of Defense. This is also a very high civilian award.
- In 2012, the French Ministry of Culture honored him as "Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres." This means "Knight of Arts and Letters."
- He was named "Environmentalist of the Year in Latin America" in 2008.
- In 2005, he received the National Order of the Cultural Patrimony of Guatemala.
Hansen also helped start the Dialogue of Civilizations Conferences. These conferences bring together experts to talk about different cultures. He also co-founded the Guatemala-China Association for Culture, Tourism and Sports.
Where He Has Worked
Richard Hansen has led archaeological digs in many places. These include Israel, parts of the United States, and Central America. His main focus is on the remote rainforests of northern Guatemala.
His team has mapped and explored 51 ancient cities in the Mirador Basin. Hansen's studies have found some of the largest and earliest ancient cities in Central America. His work has helped us understand the long history of the Maya civilization.
See also
In Spanish: Richard D. Hansen para niños
