The Archaeologist Was a Spy: Sylvanus G. Morley and the Office of Naval Intelligence

Sylvanus G. Morley (1883-1948) has been highly regarded for over a century for his archaeological work among the Maya pyramids. As director of the Carnegie Archaeological Program, he supervised the reconstruction of Chichen Itza, one of today’s most visited sites in Central America.

Harris and Sadler present information showing Morley used his archaeological skills and contacts to covertly spy for the U. S. Office of Naval Intelligence during World War I. His primary charge was to detect and report German activity along the more than 1200 miles of eastern Central American and Mexican coastlines. To aid him in this special fieldwork, Morley recruited other archaeologists, assigned them specific territories in which to work, and, together, they maintained a constant vigil.