David Stuart (Mayanist)

David Stuart
David Stuart wearing a blue checkered shirt and gray pants, squatting down amid rocks, grinning up at camera
Stuart in 2019
Born1965 (age 58–59)
Occupations
TitleSchele Professor of Mesoamerican Art and Writing, Department of Art and Art History, The University of Texas at Austin
AwardsMacArthur Fellowship, Guggenheim Fellowship
Academic background
EducationPrinceton University (B.A.)
Vanderbilt University (Ph.D.)
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of Texas at Austin
Harvard University

David S. Stuart (born 1965) is an archaeologist and epigrapher specializing in the study of ancient Mesoamerica, the area now called Mexico and Central America. His work has studied many aspects of the ancient Maya civilization. He is widely recognized for his breakthroughs in deciphering Maya hieroglyphs and interpreting Maya art and iconography, starting at an early age. He is the youngest person ever to receive a MacArthur Fellowship, at age 18. He currently teaches at the University of Texas at Austin and his current research focuses on the understanding of Maya culture, religion and history through their visual culture and writing system.