Walter R T Witschey
Dr. Walter R. T. Witschey, is a retired
Research Professor of Anthropology and Geography at Longwood University.
Witschey's research specialty is the Maya Culture of eastern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and western portions of Honduras and El Salvador. His focus is settlement patterns of the ancient Maya.
(804) 928-7871 voice/voicemail/text
For fastest response, send an email: WitscheyWR@Longwood.edu
CV as PDF file; Short biography as PDF file.
For information about my current research, MayaGIS, the Electronic Atlas of Ancient Maya Sites, and maps of the Maya region, please send an email.
Atlas of the Ancient Maya World, with Prof. Clifford T. Brown, is in press for publication about April 2025. This Maya Atlas comprises a set of maps that display the locations of most ancient Maya archaeological sites currently known to science. At its heart are maps covering the whole of the Maya region with the archaeological sites marked on them, along with other archaeological features, such as causeways, fortifications, and inscriptions. The maps allow the reader to visualize the spatial relationships among the sites, the features, and the natural landscape. [Pages 242;map sheets 119, size 11" x 14.5", full color]
The Atlas of the Ancient Maya World is a comprehensive collection of maps displaying the locations of known ancient Maya archaeological sites. The Maya atlas is designed for both the general public and scholars and scientists. It includes not only the locations of sites but also other archaeological features such as causeways, fortifications, and inscriptions. The Maya maps allow readers to visualize the spatial relationships among sites, features, and the natural landscape. Here's a breakdown of what the book offers:
• Extensive Mapping: The atlas documents the locations of over 10,000 Maya sites, both large and small. This information is compiled from published sources, personal observations, and GPS waypoints. The maps cover the entire Maya region.
• Archaeological Features: Besides site locations, the maps indicate causeways, fortifications, and inscriptions.
• Environmental Data: The atlas includes environmental and political data such as topography, elevation, hydrology, rainfall, physiographic provinces, volcanoes, soil classification, and modern political subdivisions. This helps provide context for the archaeological data.
• Visual Aids: The book uses various symbols to represent different features. For example, triangles and squares indicate the relative size of a Maya settlement, with larger symbols marking the center of monumental architecture. Fortified sites are marked with a square around their marker, sites with inscriptions have circles around their symbols, and sites with emblem glyphs are highlighted with an "X".
• LiDAR Data: The atlas shows areas that have been surveyed using LiDAR remote sensing. LiDAR is an airborne technique that creates a 3D model of the ground surface, which has revolutionized the mapping of areas covered by dense vegetation. • Gazetteer and References: The book includes a gazetteer of place names mapped in the atlas and a comprehensive list of references for site location data and causeways.
• Maps Drawn by the Maya: The book also explores maps created by the Maya themselves, including circular maps, itinerary maps, cosmographical maps, and celestial maps. These sections explain how the Maya conceptualized their world spatially.
• Electronic Atlas: This printed atlas is a static version of a dynamic electronic resource called the Electronic Atlas of Ancient Maya Sites (EAAMS). This digital version is a geographic information system (GIS) that allows for more complex analysis of the spatial data. The authors emphasize that the atlas is intended to be a tool for further research. It presents a large-scale view of the ancient Maya world, which is essential for understanding the complexities of their society.
The atlas is meant to inspire collaboration among scientists and scholars, and it is a resource for generating and testing hypotheses about ancient Maya demography, politics, economics, and social organization. The authors also hope that this book will inspire a sense of wonder about ancient Maya civilization. The maps within the atlas are a way to visualize the relationship between the ancient Maya and their environment.
Maya Teacher Resources: Map Kit for K-12 classroom use. Send email.
(c) Copyright 2025 Walter R T Witschey. Site updated January, 2025. Email me.