Stephen Williams (archeologist)
Encyclopedia
Stephen Williams is an archaeologist at Harvard University
, currently holding the title of Peabody Professor of North American Archaeology and Ethnography, Emeritus
.
Williams is best known as the author of Fantastic Archaeology (1991) and a course at Harvard based on the same material: misguided theories that have exasperated mainstream archaeologists (Indiana Jones
, Lost Atlantis
, the Land of Mu
, etc.). He also discusses claims made in the Book of Mormon
about the prehistoric Americas. The book was criticized by Latter-day Saint researcher John L. Sorenson
for, among other things, relying too heavily upon the writings of Fawn Brodie and Dan Vogel
and ignoring of the work of the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies
in the study of the archaeology of the Book of Mormon
.
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, currently holding the title of Peabody Professor of North American Archaeology and Ethnography, Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
.
Williams is best known as the author of Fantastic Archaeology (1991) and a course at Harvard based on the same material: misguided theories that have exasperated mainstream archaeologists (Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones
Colonel Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr., Ph.D. is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Indiana Jones franchise. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg created the character in homage to the action heroes of 1930s film serials...
, Lost Atlantis
Atlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
, the Land of Mu
Mu (lost continent)
Mu is the name of a hypothetical continent that allegedly existed in one of Earth's oceans, but disappeared at the dawn of human history.The concept and the name were proposed by 19th century traveler and writer Augustus Le Plongeon, who claimed that several ancient civilizations, such as those of...
, etc.). He also discusses claims made in the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
about the prehistoric Americas. The book was criticized by Latter-day Saint researcher John L. Sorenson
John L. Sorenson
John L. Sorenson is an emeritus professor of anthropology at Brigham Young University and the author of An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon as well as many other books and articles on the Book of Mormon and archaeology.Sorenson first did archaeological work in Mesoamerica while...
for, among other things, relying too heavily upon the writings of Fawn Brodie and Dan Vogel
Dan Vogel
Daniel Arlon Vogel is the author of a number of books related to early Mormon history. He is a former member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an atheist and a skeptic.- Joseph Smith biography :...
and ignoring of the work of the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies
Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies
The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies is an informal collaboration of academics devoted to Latter-day Saint historical scholarship. The group is formally part of the Neal A...
in the study of the archaeology of the Book of Mormon
Archaeology and the Book of Mormon
Since the publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830, both Mormon and non-Mormon archaeologists have studied its claims in reference to known archaeological evidence...
.
Works
- Williams, Stephen (1954), An Archaeological Study of the Mississippian Culture in Southeast Missouri, PhD dissertation, Department of Anthropology, Yale UniversityYale UniversityYale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. - Williams, Stephen, Fantastic Archaeology: The Wild Side of North American Prehistory (1991)
- Williams, Stephen, Excavations at the Lake George Site, Yazoo Country, Mississippi, 1958-1960 (2004; Series: Papers of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology)