| Ed Barnhart | |
| Birth Date: | 29 October 1968 |
| Birth Place: | Englewood, New Jersey |
| Known For: | Maya Exploration Center |
| Occupation: | Archaeologist |
| Thesis Url: | https://www.proquest.com/docview/304718157 |
| Thesis Title: | The Palenque mapping project: settlement and urbanism at an ancient Maya city |
| Thesis Year: | 2001 |
Edwin Lawrence Barnhart (born October 29, 1968) is an American archaeologist and explorer specializing in ancient civilizations of the Americas. He is the founder and director of the Maya Exploration Center, president of Ancient Explorations, and fellow of the Explorers Club.[1] [2]
Barnhart's early career focused on surveying and mapping in Mesoamerica. He re-discovered the city of Ma'ax Na ("spider-monkey house") in Belize in 1995.[3] He also led the Palenque Mapping Project in 1998–2000, at the invitation of the Mexican government, which documented 1,478 structures in the Maya ruins of Palenque in Chiapas, Mexico.[4] [5]
Barnhart studied under Linda Schele at the University of Texas at Austin, where he received his Ph.D. in anthropology in 2001.[6] He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado in 1992, with a double major in anthropology and Latin American studies.[7]
Barnhart is a public speaker on archaeology topics. He has appeared on the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, and on Japanese public television.[8] He also produced four lecture series for the Teaching Company's Great Courses and has a podcast called ArchaeoEd.[9]