J. Mark Kenoyer

Widely considered an expert on Indus Valley civilization. His excavations at Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa have yielded crucial data on city layout, craft production, economic organization, and the origins of writing. Publications include The Origin, Context, and Function of the Indus Script: Recent Insights from Harappa (2006), Indus and Mesopotamian Trade Networks: New Insights from Shell and Carnelian Artifacts (2007), and Craft Traditions of the Indus Civilization and their Legacy in Modern Pakistan (2006). Because he not only excavates key ancient cities that shed light on the origins of urbanization, but also elucidates contemporary urban patterns in Pakistan and India, he is a leading figure in South Asian archaeology, history, and ancient civilizations.