In Search of the Maya: The First Archaeologists

Brunhouse, Robert Levere, In search of the Maya: the first archaeologists, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1973.

Reviewed in The Hispanic American Historical Review © 1974.

Reviewed in American Anthropologist © 1975.

From the Introduction:

The chapters that follow emphasize the personal aspects of the individuals. Previous accounts of Maya archaeology have too often subordinated the explorer to his archaeological contributions. Here the human element receives major attention. Sometimes the sources have been scanty; in the case of Antonio del Rio, for example, we must rely almost entirely on his formal report. But most of these men left enough autobiographical writings to provide fairly clear pictures of their personalities. Finally, we have real people here, not unblemished heroes, and so we shall encounter human foibles as well as outstanding achievements.