Yucatan Adventure: Bringing you information pertaining to the Yucatan and the Mayan World.
 

Celebrating Merle Greene Robertson
by Belisa B. Gordon
 

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Yucatan Adventure proudly supports the social work of
       

THE MAYA FOUNDATION
IN LAAKEECH A.C.

Archaeologists
    ▫ Edward Thompson
    ▫ Jean Charlot
    ▫ Merle Greene
       Robertson
    ▫ Tatiana
       Proskouriakoff

   Merle Greene Robertson has long been recognized as an extraordinary female and archaeologist.  Since the 1960's, Merle has been seriously engaged in recording the relief sculpture stones of ancient Maya sites in Central America by using her own unique technique of making “Rubbings.”  Her work has helped broaden the understanding of the Maya Civilization and contributed to the increase studies of ancient Maya sites.

   During the 1970's, Merle established the Pre-Colombian Art Research Institute at Palenque to promote the study of ancient Maya Civilization; the institute has a library of more than 6000 volumes, a research facility for scholars, and a special place for scientific institutions. Her “Round Tables at Palenque” earned her the respect and love of many Maya scholars and contributed to the unification of academic criteria about the Maya cultural legacy.

   Her academic achievements are too many to number. An Associate at the Middle American Research Institute of Tulane University; she was awarded in 1987 the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters by Tulane.  She also was awarded the Order of the Aztec Eagle, by the President of Mexico; and in recent years, a unique medal of honor for the years she has dedicated to the recording of the Maya stones and carvings in Yucatan.

   Dr. Merle Greene Robertson's rubbings have been displayed at the Museum of Primitive Art in New York, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and in many other museums. Today at Chichen Itza, Dr. Merle Greene’s original Rubbings Collection is exhibit permanently at the Gallery museum, named after her, at Hacienda Chichen Resort.  This unique exhibit is open daily from 5pm to 9pm to all guests and visitors to the property.

   Dr. Merle Greene R. still stays at the Hacienda Chichen Resort during her yearly fieldtrips to Chichen Itza.  She has a lovely Master Suite dedicated to her and especially designed to meet her needs.  The past few years, she has dedicated her time and work to Old Chichen’s temples, recording with her Rubbing technique many of the wonderful carvings found in the temples that have been reconstructed by INAH in recent years.  She enjoys working with young scholars and getting friends to join her during her summer stays at Chichen Itza.

   A great writer and scholar, she has many volumes of wonderful information published about Palenque and a complete CD collection of her Rubbings.  This year, she published her own memoirs Never in Fear.   If you are interested in learning more about Dr. Merle Greene Robertson's books and work, we recommend you visit these links:

 

Follow this link to buy a copy of her memoirs Never in Fear.

PARI : www.mesoweb.com/pari/index.html  

Her Rubbings and work: www.mesoweb.com/rubbings

University of Tulane: www.lal.tulane.edu/rubbings.html

Dr. Merle Greene Gallery:  www.haciendachichen.com/museum.htm

A brief  biography:  www.haciendachichen.com/archaeologists.htm

 
Article adapted from Tulane University's description of the
 Merle Greene Robertson Collection 1966-1993

 January 2007