Dr. William Fash

Biography

William L. Fash is the Bowditch Professor of Central American and Mexican Archaeology at Harvard University, focusing on cultural heritage and landscape archaeology. He began his archaeological career with an undergraduate degree in Anthropology from the University of Illinois in 1976 and later joined the Copán archaeological project in 1977 under Gordon R. Willey. His extensive research has illuminated ancient Maya culture through multi-national and multi-institutional efforts, including the establishment of the Copán Mosaics Project in 1985 and the design of the Sculpture Museum at Copán. Fash has held numerous significant positions, including Chair of Harvard’s Department of Anthropology and Director of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. He has been involved in excavations in Mesoamerica and has received various awards, including the Order José Cecilio del Valle in recognition of his work in heritage management. His publications contribute significantly to the field, addressing the history and culture of the ancient Maya, as well as current archaeological methodologies. Fash has been recognized for his lifetime achievement in the preservation of Honduras’ cultural heritage and continues to be influential in Mesoamerican archaeology through his research and teaching.

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