_Robert W. Carmack, an anthropologist who was a pioneer in the study of the Maya civilization and a leading expert on the history of the ancient Maya and their modern-day descendants, died on July 16, 2014, at a hospital in Albany, N.Y. He was 72. The cause was pneumonia, said his wife, Patricia A. McAnany._
_Dr. Carmack, who was a professor at the University at Albany, SUNY, and had previously taught at the University of California, Berkeley, and the State University of New York at Albany, was known for his groundbreaking work in Mayan archaeology, epigraphy, and ethnohistory. He was also a leading advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples, and he worked closely with Mayan communities in Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize._
_Dr. Carmack was born on March 12, 1942, in Long Beach, Calif. He received a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1964 and a doctorate in anthropology from the same institution in 1970. He began his teaching career at the University at Albany in 1975 and was promoted to full professor in 1988._
_Dr. Carmack’s research focused on the ancient Maya civilization, which flourished in Mesoamerica from about 2500 BC to 1500 AD. He was particularly interested in the Maya hieroglyphic writing system, which he deciphered with the help of other scholars. He also conducted extensive research on the history of the Maya peoples from the time of the Spanish conquest to the present._
_Dr. Carmack was the author or editor of more than 30 books and numerous articles on the Maya civilization. His most famous works include _The History of the Maya_ (1981), _Quichean Civilization: The Ethnohistoric, Linguistic, and Archaeological Sources_ (1988), and _The Temples of Tikal: A Comprehensive Guide_ (1996)._
_In addition to his scholarly work, Dr. Carmack was also actively involved in the promotion of Mayan culture. He was a co-founder of the Maya Studies Program at the University at Albany, and he helped to establish the Albany Center for Mesoamerican Studies. He also served as president of the Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas._
_Dr. Carmack is survived by his wife, Patricia A. McAnany; his son, Robert W. Carmack Jr.; his daughter, Sarah Carmack; and his two grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the University at Albany on August 2, 2014._
_Dr. Carmack was a brilliant scholar and a tireless advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples. He will be deeply missed by his colleagues, students, and friends._