Yuri Knorozov: Russian Greatest Mayan Scholar

Dr. Knorozov (pronounced Koor-rin-noz-koff) died in 1999, he singlehandedly created the Mayan discipline of Pre-Colombian Mayan decipherment, using early modern Franciscan documents accompanying the Conquistadors, namely Fr. Diego de Landa.  He is buried in St. Petersburg Russia. 

Serving Russia's Red Army, he found an original Mayan manuscript burning in Hitler's infamous book burning rituals.  It served his interest in hieroglyphic, non-phonetic alphabets. 
​
PEABODY MUSEUM OF ARCHEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY