Draft:David W. Johnson (archaeologist)

Intro

David W. Johnson is an American archaeologist, anthropologist, and documentary filmmaker best known for his research on the correlation between geology, hydrology, and archaeological features, particularly the Nasca Lines in Peru. His interdisciplinary work spans North and South America, Europe, and Africa, with a focus on sacred and ceremonial landscapes, Native American heritage sites, and indigenous cultural preservation.

Early Life and Education

Johnson resides in Poughkeepsie, New York. He holds a degree from Syracuse University; his extensive fieldwork and publications reflect a background in anthropology, geology, and hydrology.

Nasca and South American Research

From 1996 to 2012, Johnson conducted extensive research in Peru and Chile, exploring how geoglyphs such as the Nasca Lines aligned with subterranean water sources. He co-directed expeditions with the University of Massachusetts Amherst, collaborating with archaeologist Donald Proulx and hydrogeologist Stephen B. Mabee. The team's findings are summarized on the UMass Nasca Lines Project page.

In 1998, Johnson received the National Geographic Research and Exploration Award for his Nasca research. His findings were later published in *Beneath the Nasca Lines and Other Coastal Geoglyphs of Peru and Chile* (2009, 2020).

Native American Ceremonial Landscapes

Since the early 2000s, Johnson has worked to document Native American Ceremonial Stone Landscapes in the northeastern United States. He has collaborated with the Ramapough Lenape Nation and the Cherokee Tribe of Northeastern Alabama, and has served as an archaeological advisor to tribal leadership.

He has held long-term research permits from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, documenting sacred features in state parks such as Minnewaska, Sterling Forest, and Goosepond Mountain.

In 2016, Johnson’s research on ceremonial landscapes was accepted into the archives of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Anthropological Archives.

International and Humanitarian Work

Johnson has also conducted anthropological and humanitarian fieldwork in Africa and Asia, producing cultural documentaries for the Africa 2000 Network of the United Nations and Global Learning Inc. His projects include documentation of the Orma and Pogomo tribes of Kenya, many of which are preserved by Tufts University Digital Collections and Archives and the Smithsonian Institution.

Publications

Johnson is the author of several books, including:

- Beneath the Nasca Lines and Other Coastal Geoglyphs of Peru and Chile (2009, 2020)

- Native Americans’ Sacred and Ceremonial Landscapes Correlation with Groundwater (2020)

- Aligning Megalithic Sites of Southern England and Carnac, France with Groundwater (2020)

He has also contributed to academic volumes such as:

- Andean Archaeology II (Kluwer/Plenum, 2002)

- Spirits in Stone (Bear & Company, 2018)

Media Appearances

Johnson’s research has been featured on:

- Discovery Channel

- Travel Channel

- National Geographic

- The History Channel’s History’s Greatest Mysteries (2023)

Honors and Recognition

  National Geographic Research and Exploration Award (1998)

- Diploma de Honor from the National University of Engineering, Lima, Peru (2010)

- Research archived in the Smithsonian National Anthropological Archives

- Multiple awards from the New York State Archaeological Association

Legacy

David W. Johnson’s interdisciplinary approach has reshaped the understanding of how natural systems—especially groundwater—interact with ancient human settlements and sacred practices. His theory linking the Nasca Lines to aquifer systems brought a new hydrological lens to geoglyph studies, earning recognition in both scientific and archaeological communities.

In North America, Johnson has helped bring national and institutional recognition to Native American ceremonial stone landscapes. His partnerships with tribal communities have elevated the cultural importance of these features and supported their protection under historic preservation frameworks.

His documentation, now part of the Smithsonian Institution archives, provides an enduring record of Indigenous heritage and environmental interaction. Through books, educational programs, and media appearances, Johnson has bridged scholarly research and public education, contributing to cultural awareness and archaeological conservation worldwide.