Education

B.A., Archaeological Studies, Yale College

M.A., Art History, University of Texas at Austin

Ph.D., History of Art, Yale University

Description of Research

Megan O'Neil's research focuses primarily on how the ancient Maya physically and conceptually engaged with monumental stone sculptures over their life histories, from their creations and dedications to later reception, ceremonial use, and material transformations such as breaking, burning, and caching. As a parallel area of inquiry, she is interested in more recent histories of illustration, collecting, and museum display of Maya sculptures. Recent publications include essays in the Journal of Visual Culture and the edited volume, Collecting Across Cultures. Forthcoming this fall is an article in the journal Ancient Mesoamerica, and in spring 2012, the University of Oklahoma Press will publish her book on monumental sculpture from the ancient Maya archaeological site of Piedras Negras.