Sarah Kurnick

Sarah Kurnick is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania (2013). Her research focuses on ancient Mesoamerica, particularly the Maya civilization, emphasizing the creation and negation of social inequality and political authority. She co-directs the Punta Laguna Archaeology Project in Mexico, combining community archaeology with studies of Maya persistence and resilience. Her work bridges archaeology with social justice, advocating for Indigenous perspectives and equitable collaboration. Kurnick has received grants from the National Science Foundation and National Geographic Society, and fellowships from the Gerda Henkel Foundation and University of Colorado Boulder.

Her research integrates spatial analysis, ceramic studies, and ethnographic methods to explore how Maya communities navigated social transformations. She emphasizes the role of archaeology in addressing contemporary issues like cultural heritage preservation. Key projects include analyzing Punta Laguna’s continuous occupation and resilience despite environmental challenges, and redefining archaeological practices through Indigenous cartographies and photographic ethics.

Publications span archaeological journals and public platforms, including Ancient Mesoamerica, Heritage, and Cambridge Archaeological Journal. She also engages public audiences through articles like 'Aliens Built the Pyramids' (TED Talk) and critiques of pseudo-archaeology. Her work underscores archaeology’s potential to foster social change by centering marginalized voices and rethinking colonial frameworks.