Crafting a Legacy in Archaeology: Papers Celebrating the Career of Ken Hirth

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "Crafting a Legacy in Archaeology: Papers Celebrating the Career of Ken Hirth" at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

For over 50 years, Ken Hirth has crafted a legacy in the field of archaeology, driving new and innovative perspectives in cross-cultural ancient economy and spatial pattern research across Mesoamerica. During Ken Hirth’s extensive career, he (co)directed over a dozen landmark projects, most notably at the sites of Xochicalco, Tepeaca, Teotihuacan, and San Lorenzo in Mexico, El Cajon in Honduras, and Jicamarca-Cajamarquilla in Peru. His pioneering studies in preindustrial Mesoamerican marketplaces, obsidian craft production, and lithic blade technology have shaped generations of archaeological approaches to ancient economy, and he has produced nearly 30 authored, edited, or co-edited books on these topics. In addition to these accomplishments, one of Ken Hirth’s greatest achievements is his commitment to mentoring students, many of whom pursue diverse research throughout Mesoamerica today. This symposium celebrates Ken Hirth’s outstanding career in archaeology, his numerous contributions to this field, and the many people he impacted along the way.