James Fitzsimmons
Professor of Anthropology
- Office
- Munroe Hall 109
- Tel
- (802) 443-5618
- jfitzsim@middlebury.edu
- Office Hours
- Fall 2024: Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:45pm-2:15pm; or by appointment.
James L. Fitzsimmons received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2002. He taught at a number of institutions before coming to Middlebury and has held writing fellowships at Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collections, in Washington, D.C., and the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom. As a Mesoamerican archaeologist, his research interests include the anthropology of death, the rise of complex societies in Mesoamerica, and the origins of writing.
Dr. Fitzsimmons has either directed or been a member of several archaeological projects in the United States, Guatemala, and Honduras. His most recent project was centered at the Classic Maya (250-850 AD) site of Zapote Bobal, Guatemala. Known as Hiix Witz, or ‘Jaguar Hill’ in ancient Maya times, this site features prominently in the history of famous Maya cities like Piedras Negras and Yaxchilan as both an adversary and an ally. Excavations there uncovered a rich, undiscovered history portrayed in numerous hieroglyphic texts as well as the archaeological record; this history is in the process of being documented for a volume for the Corpus of Maya Hieroglyphic Inscriptions at the Peabody Museum (Harvard University). In terms of future fieldwork, Fitzsimmons is currently laying the foundation for a new project in Belize, which will involve not only excavations but also the creation of an archaeological field school.
In addition to his journal articles and book chapters, Dr. Fitzsimmons is the author or editor of five books, including Death and the Classic Maya Kings (University of Texas Press, 2009), Living with the Dead: Mortuary Ritual in Mesoamerica (co-edited with Izumi Shimada; University of Arizona Press 2011), and Classic Maya Polities of the Southern Lowlands: Integration, Interaction, and Dissolution (co-edited with Damien Marken; University of Colorado Press 2015). The first two are concerned with the ceremonies, attitudes, and beliefs of peoples in their interactions with the dead, combining the results of archaeological excavations and ideas presented in ancient written texts as well as examples gleaned from ethnography and ethnohistory. His latest book explores questions on the fundamentals of Maya city-states. For example, were formal boundaries between states actually recognized by the Maya, and by whom? What was the actual relationship between kings and the villages they claimed dominion over? These are hotly contested questions in Maya archaeology, and the book includes perspectives from scholars on all sides of the debate.
Dr. Fitzsimmons is currently working on a second manuscript for the University of Texas Press tentatively entitled The Archaeology of Death in Ancient Mesoamerica, which will be the first broad synthesis of funerary practices in Precolumbian Mesoamerica. From the Olmecs to the Aztecs, this book will explore the evolution of different mortuary behaviors and their changes over time.
Dr. Fitzsimmons has offered introductory as well as upper-level courses in anthropology and archaeology. The former include courses in introductory archaeology, sociocultural anthropology, and physical anthropology, whereas the upper-level courses cover topics like mortuary behavior, indigenous writing systems of the Americas, ancient Mesoamerican societies, archaeological method and theory, and the archaeology of religion. In the classroom, he enjoys bringing archaeology and the other subdisciplines of anthropology together; he likewise draws upon general comparative material from the humanities and social sciences. He believes that a multidisciplinary approach to the ancient past not only allows students to engage archaeology from familiar angles but also permits a richer interpretation of world prehistory and the people in it.
Courses Taught
ANTH 0107
Current
Introduction to Archaeology
Course Description
Introduction to Archaeology
Archaeology is the scientific analysis and interpretation of cultural remains. Archaeologists examine artifacts, architecture, and even human remains in order to answer questions about the growth and development of societies worldwide. In addressing these issues we not only illuminate the past but also explore patterns relevant to contemporary social concerns. From the tropical lowlands of Central America to the deserts of ancient Egypt, this course provides an introduction to world prehistory. We proceed from humanity's earliest beginnings to the development of complex societies worldwide and use case examples to explore the major topics, methods, and theories of contemporary archaeology. (formerly SOAN 0107) 2 hrs. lect./1 hr. lab.
Terms Taught
Requirements
ANTH 0212
Upcoming
Origins of Writing
Course Description
Origins of Writing
The first attempts at writing were awkward experiments. A few transitioned to fully-fledged writing systems, but most were incomplete affairs that eventually went extinct. In the first half of this course, we will explore the reasons why some experiments faltered—and why others succeeded in Africa, Eurasia, and the Americas thousands of years ago. We will learn how archaeologists and codebreakers deciphered these inscriptions as well as the basics of the writing systems themselves, from Mesopotamian cuneiform to Egyptian hieroglyphics to Chinese oracle bones. In the second half of the course, we will explore Mesoamerican writing systems and focus on learning the Maya hieroglyphic script—the most sophisticated system ever produced in the Americas.
Terms Taught
Requirements
ANTH 0223
Upcoming
Andean Civilizations
Course Description
Andean Civilizations
Stretching from present-day Ecuador to Chile and consisting of desert coasts, fertile valleys, soaring Andes, and tropical jungle, the Inca Empire was the largest state the Precolumbian Americas had ever seen. Although they claimed to have ‘civilized’ the Andes, the Inka were only the latest in a sequence of complex societies, all of which ultimately fell to the Spanish in the mid-1500s. In this course we will explore the growth and development of social complexity in the region, from the first human occupation of South America to the era of European contact. (formerly SOAN 0223) 3 hrs. lect.
Terms Taught
Requirements
ANTH 0227
Current
Aztec Empire/Spanish Conquest
Course Description
The Aztec Empire and the Spanish Conquest
This course centers around the rise and fall of the Aztecs, the first state-level society encountered by the Spanish in 1519. Although primarily known today for their military exploits for what today is Mexico, the Aztecs produced great artisans, artists, and philosophers whose contributions endure in contemporary Mexican culture. We will trace the origins and development of Aztec civilization to its encounter with the Spanish in 1519. The course also covers the Spanish background for the Conquest, from the martial and political expulsion of Moors and Jews from the Iberian Peninsula in 1492 to the Spanish Inquisition. (formerly SOAN/HIST 0327) 3 hrs. lect./disc.
Terms Taught
Requirements
ANTH 0228
The Ancient Maya
Course Description
The Rise and Fall of the Ancient Maya
As perhaps the most famous of all of the cultures of Mesoamerica, the Maya are best known for soaring temples, portraits of kings, a complex hieroglyphic writing system, and a dramatic collapse when their ancient kingdoms were abandoned or destroyed. In this course, we will view their accomplishments through the archaeology of the Classic Period (250-850 AD) and examine how the Maya built cities within the tropical jungles of present-day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras. We will also explore the history of the Maya after the “fall,” from their revival in the post-Classic Period to the present day. (formerly SOAN 0328) 3 hrs. lect./disc
Terms Taught
Requirements
ANTH 0357
Death and the Body
Course Description
Death and the Body
This course will provide an overview of how archaeologists and anthropologists encounter and interpret death in societies worldwide. We will look at death and the body from the perspective of burials and tombs, discussing ancient and modern conceptions of souls, afterlives, and identities. Drawing upon my own research in the tropical lowlands of Guatemala and Honduras, we will compare Maya attitudes towards death with those of other world societies, from the mummies of ancient Egypt to modern jazz funerals in New Orleans. We will explore different ideas about death, social boundaries, and even what it is to be human. 3 hrs. lect.
Terms Taught
Requirements
ANTH 0410
Sorcery in Mesoamerica
Course Description
Sorcery in Mesoamerica
Sorcery was fundamental to religious life in ancient Mesoamerica. Though removed from one another in time and space, the different cultures and civilizations of this region practiced magic and witchcraft. Civilizations like the Aztecs (1300-1521 CE), the Classic Maya (250-850 CE) and the Olmecs (1200-400 BCE) flourished in different environments, spoke unrelated languages, and worshipped separate gods; however, they were all fascinated by the occult. This course compares their magical traditions from a variety of viewpoints, including analytical, anthropological, and historical perspectives. It also considers the impact of European witchcraft on Mesoamerica, from the Colonial Period to the present.3 hrs. sem.
Terms Taught
Requirements
ANTH 0500
Current
Upcoming
Advanced Individual Study
Course Description
Prior to registering for ANTH 0500, a student must enlist the support of a faculty advisor from the Department of Anthropology. (Open to Majors only) (Approval Required)
Terms Taught
ANTH 0700
Current
Upcoming
One-Semester Senior Project
Course Description
One-Semester Senior Project
Under the guidance of a faculty member, a student will carry out an independent, one-semester research project, often based on original data. The student must also participate in a senior seminar that begins the first week of fall semester and meets as necessary during the rest of the year. The final product must be presented in a written report of 25-40 pages, due the last day of classes.
Terms Taught
ANTH 0710
Current
Upcoming
Multi-Semester Senior Project
Course Description
Multi-Semester Senior Project
Under the guidance of a faculty member, a senior will carry out an independent multi-semester research project, often based on original data. The student must also participate in a senior seminar that begins the first week of fall semester and meets as necessary during the rest of the year. The final product must be presented in a written report of 60-100 pages, due either at the end of the Winter Term or the Friday after spring break.
Terms Taught
FYSE 1064
The Art of the Maya Scribe
Course Description
The Artistry of the Maya Scribe
The Maya produced what was arguably the most beautiful script of the ancient Americas—a true combination of art and writing. This course explores Maya history and the fundamentals of their writing system, but with a twist: instead of just focusing on reading comprehension, we explore how scribes learned to write. Using ancient painting techniques and natural pigments, students will discover how to combine words and images in playful ways and, in so doing, understand why this system evolved as it did. They will explore the stylistic choices made in the first millennium CE—and perhaps make those same choices again. This course is part of the Public Humanities Labs Initiative administered by the Axinn Center for the Humanities./
Terms Taught
Requirements