Ethnology of the Mayas of southern and central British Honduras

Originally published as a Field Museum of Natural History publication in 1930, this monograph represents a foundational study in Maya anthropology. Sir John Eric Sidney Thompson, a preeminent British archaeologist and epigrapher, conducted extensive field research in British Honduras, now Belize, during the early 20th century. His objective was to document the ethnographic practices, social structures, and linguistic nuances of the indigenous Maya populations, providing an essential academic record before these traditions faced further displacement or assimilation.

The work is lauded for Thompson’s rigorous observational methodology and his deep, empathetic engagement with the communities he studied. While his later career became synonymous with the decipherment of Maya hieroglyphs, this specific volume serves as a critical primary source for scholars interested in the intersection of traditional Mayan customs and colonial-era ethnography. Its continued reprinting by presses like Franklin Classics acknowledges its status as an enduring classic in the field of Mesoamerican studies.