Robert James Sharer (1940–2012) was an influential American archaeologist, academic, and Mayanist researcher whose career spanned more than four decades. He was widely recognized for his extensive archaeological investigations at numerous pre-Columbian Mesoamerican sites, as well as his significant contributions to the theoretical understanding of the ancient Maya civilization. His fieldwork and subsequent publications helped shape modern scholarly perspectives on Mesoamerican history.
Sharer spent over thirty years as a lecturer and professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania, where he held the prestigious Sally and Alvin V. Shoemaker Professor in Anthropology endowed chair starting in 1995. In addition to his teaching duties, he maintained a long-standing association with the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, serving as the curator-in-charge of its American collection and research section from 1987 to 2009.
Throughout his career, Sharer authored several foundational texts on Mesoamerican history. Among his most notable publications are Daily Life in Maya Civilization, which offered detailed insights into the social structures of the ancient Maya, and The Ancient Maya, co-authored with Loa P. Traxler, which became a widely used academic resource and went through six editions. His writings remain key references for students and scholars of pre-Columbian history.
