معرفی
Charles W. Golden is a Professor of Anthropology at Brandeis University's Department of Anthropology. His research focuses on Mesoamerican archaeology, particularly the political, economic, and environmental dynamics of ancient Maya kingdoms. He has directed major projects such as the Sierra del Lacandón Regional Archaeology Project (2003-2010) and the Proyecto Arqueológico Busilja-Chocolja, which explore borderland regions between Maya polities. His work integrates remote sensing technologies like LiDAR with soil science, geography, and historical analysis to understand settlement patterns, land use, and sociopolitical boundaries.
Golden holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His past affiliations include Brown University, where he previously directed initiatives like the Piedras Negras-Yaxchilan Landscape Project. He emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, combining anthropology, ecology, and digital methods to address questions about ancient economies, warfare, and territoriality.
His research often centers on how Maya communities navigated political tensions, resource management, and cultural exchange in complex landscapes. Current projects examine the intersection of environmental adaptation and sociopolitical organization in regions like Chiapas, Mexico, and the Usumacinta River Basin. Golden advocates for archaeology's role in public education and heritage preservation, particularly in contemporary Maya communities.
