A Session in Memory of William J. Folan: Cities, Settlement, and Climate

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "A Session in Memory of William J. Folan: Cities, Settlement, and Climate" at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

William J. Folan (1931–2022) was an indefatigable researcher who made substantive contributions to archaeological scholarship over the course of a professional career spanning seven decades. Reflecting the influence of his advisor Walter W. Taylor, Willie’s ideas often went against the mainstream. This is most clearly reflected in his seminal work on Maya settlement patterns and urbanism, as well as theories that explored the impacts of climatic variability on long-term historical dynamics. Although best known for his pathbreaking studies of two of the largest precontact Maya cities—Coba and Calakmul—his work made a substantive impact across Mesoamerica and North America. Perhaps Willie’s greatest strength was as a collaborator, with a proven track record of creating opportunities for junior colleagues. His personal story and 60-year investment in field research highlight a lifelong dedication to the advancement of the field. In this session colleagues and friends will come together to highlight Willie’s lasting contributions to archaeology in the areas of settlement patterns, urbanism, political organization, and human-environmental interactions.