Department of Anthropology Staff
Jane Walsh, Ph.D.
Anthropologist Emeritus
Division: Archaeology
Area of Specialization: Pre-Columbian Mexican archaeology and ethnohistory
Phone: 202-633-1897
Fax: 202-357-2208
E-mail Address: walshj@si.edu
Department of Anthropology Mailing Address
Education:
Ph.D. (1993), The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
M.A. (1971), University of the Americas, Mexico City, Mexico
B.A. (1968), University of the Americas, Mexico City, Mexico
Research Interests/Profile:
My principal research interest is the archaeology and ethnohistory of pre-Columbian Mexican cultures. This specialization began quite early during high school years spent in Mexico City, and continues today with the study Pre-Columbian Mexican archaeological collections in the Smithsonian collections, as well as other national museums. As a result of my work with crystal skulls, I have developed a specialty in pre-Columbian lapidary technology; and additionally employ ethnohistorical archives to document the cultural practices and technological advancements of ancient cultures. I am also interested in fake artifacts that have found their way into important national collections. I think fakes are creatures of their time, and as such have important stories to tell us about our own history, in addition to the evolving states of our knowledge.
Selected Publications:
| 2008 | Walsh, Jane M. and Margaret Sax, I.C. Freestone, A.H. Rankin, N.D., Meeks. The origin of two purportedly pre-Columbian Mexican quartz crystal skulls in The Journal of Archaeological Science, pp.2751-2760. |
| 2008 | Walsh, Jane M.,The Dumbarton Oaks Tlazolteotl: Looking Beneath the Surface in Journal de la Société des Americanistes, 94-1. |
| 2008 | Legend of the Crystal Skull in Archaeology Magazine; Volume 61, No. 3 May/June - http://www.archaeology.org/0805/etc/indy.html |
| 2006 | Falsificando la historia, Los falsos objetos prehispánicos in Arqueología Mexicana; vol. XIV, No. 82. |
| 2005 | What Is Real? A New Look at Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican Collections in Anthronotes, Vol. 26,No. 1, Spring. |
| 2004 | La Vasija Obsidiana de Texcoco in Arqueología Mexicana, vol. XII, No.70. |
| 2004 | From the Ends of the Earth – The Extraordinary Collections of the U.S. Exploring Expedition in the Smithsonian Institution Libraries website, The United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842. |
| 2003 | Máscaras Teotihuacanas; De Teotihuacan a Filadelphia en 1830 in Araqueología Mexicana, Teotihuacan Ciudad de Misterios; Vol. XI, Num. 64. |
| 2002 | The Smithsonian Water Goddess; An Aztec Sculpture Rediscovered. In West by Nonwest, RES, Vol. 42, Autumn. Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge. |
| 2002 | Collections as Currency in Anthropology in History, and American Indians: Essays in Honor of William Curtis Sturtevant, Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology, Number 44, SI Press, Washington, D.C. |
| 2001 | Smithsonian Expeditions: A Museum Partnership in AnthroNotes - Museum of Natural History Publication for Educators; Volume 22, No. 3, Fall. |
| 1998 | John Peabody Harrington, a biographical sketch, in American National Biography; Oxford University Press. |
| 1997 | Crystal Skulls and Other Problems in Exhibiting Dilemmas; Issues of Representation at the Smithsonian. edited by Henderson & Kaeppler. |
Electronic Publications:
| 2008 | Natural History Highlight: “Ancient Mexico, Hollywood land the French Connection: The Hype, The History, The Reality." http://anthropology.si.edu/crystal_skulls/ |
| 2007 | Smithsonian Olmec Legacy, http://anthropology.si.edu/olmec/. A bi-lingual virtual exhibition with a database of 800 field photographs and a second database containing 700 photographs of Olmec artifacts. Walsh, J.M. with Pamela Henson and Margaret Dittemore. |
| 1999 | Smithsonian Expeditions: 150 Years of Research in Latin America. http://anthropology.si.edu/laexped/. An electronic exhibit. |
Selected Exhibitions:
| 2007 | Smithsonian Treasure from Mexico; Smithsonian Institution. |
| 2006 | México a través de los Ojos de Edward Nelson, 1892 – 1906 - An exhibit of at the Museo Universitario in Malinalco, Estado de Mexico & Universidad Autónoma de México, Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas |
| 1999 | Smithsonian Expeditions: Exploring Latin America and the Caribbean. Miami Museum of Science. |
| 1996 | Expeditions - 150 Years of Smithsonian Research in Latin America. Cultural Center Gallery of the Interamerican Development Bank. |
| 1991 | Seeds of Change -National Museum of Natural History. |
| 1985 | Magnificent Voyagers - The U.S. Exploring Expedition 1838-1842. National Museum of Natural History. Also traveling exhibition. |
| 1978 | Treasures of Mexico. Sponsored by the Armand Hammer Foundation. National Museum of Natural History |
Fellowships and Grants:
| 2003 | Women’s International Science Collaboration Program, American Association for the Advancement of Science grant to fund Scanning Electron Microscope study of Pre-Columbian carved stone artifacts at British Museum |
| 2002 | Smithsonian Institution Latino Initiative for Smithsonian Olmec Legacy project |
| 2001 | Miami Museum of Science grant for series of teleconferences on Expeditions |
| 2000 | Special grant for series of three teleconferences on Expeditions exhibit, MMS |
| 1999 | Special grant for exhibition, Smithsonian Institution, Latino Initiative |
| 1999 | Special Grant for exhibition, Miami Museum of Science |
| 1999 | U.S.I.A., Fulbright - U.S. Speaker and Specialist Grant in El Salvador |
| 1998 | U.S.I.A. U.S. Speaker and Specialist Grant in El Salvador |
| 1997 | Research Opportunity Fund, Smithsonian Institution |
| 1996 | Smithsonian Institution Latino Initiative Allocation Fund |
| 1995 | H. John Heinz III Charitable Trust grant |
| 1995 | Research Opportunity Fund, Smithsonian Institution |
| 1994 | Research Resources Program Grant, Smithsonian Institution |
| 1988 | Research Opportunity Fund, Smithsonian Institution |
| 1987 | Suzanne Liebers Erickson Danish Exchange Program grant for research |
Awards:
| 2005 | Reconocimiento; Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México |
| 2004 | Certificate of Award, Smithsonian Institution Affiliations Program |
| 2001 | Certificate of Award, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History |
| 2000 | Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History Exemplary Service Award |
| 1999 | Award of Appreciation, Institute of Maya Studies, Miami Museum of Science |
| 1994 | Smithsonian Institution Personal Recognition and Excellence Award |
| 1992 | National Museum of Natural History: Director's Award for Meritorious Service |
| 1987 | Print Casebooks 8: Design Excellence Award - Magnificent Voyagers: The United States Exploring Expedition 1938-1842 |
| 1986 | National Museum of Natural History: Director's Exceptional Service |
| 1978 | National Museum of Natural History: Director's Superior Performance Award |
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