@article{a07d27bac8f845efa546c69155fa0734,
title = "Thirty-two years of integrating archaeology and heritage management in belize: A brief history of the belize valley archaeological reconnaissance (bvar) project{\textquoteright}s engagement with the public",
abstract = "Since its inception in 1988, the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance (BVAR) Project has had two major foci, that of cultural heritage management and archaeological research. While research has concentrated on excavation and survey, the heritage management focus of the project has included the preservation of ancient monuments, the integration of archaeology and tourism development, and cultural heritage education. In this paper, we provide a brief overview on the history of scientific investigations by the BVAR Project, highlighting the project{\textquoteright}s dual heritage management and research goals. This background offers the basis in which to discuss the successes and challenges of the project{\textquoteright}s efforts in cultural heritage management and public engagement, particularly in early conservation efforts, in its training and educational efforts, and its ongoing outreach activity. We emphasize the need to train Belizeans as professional archaeologists and conservators, to serve as the next generation of advocates for Belize{\textquoteright}s heritage management. We offer some ideas on how research projects can make significant contributions to heritage education and preservation in the developing world.",
keywords = "Belizean archaeology, Conservation, Cultural heritage, Education, Maya archaeology, Tourism",
author = "Hoggarth, {Julie A.} and Awe, {Jaime J.} and Ebert, {Claire E.} and Guerra, {Rafael A.} and Antonio Beardall and Watkins, {Tia B.} and Walden, {John P.}",
note = "Funding Information: Hoggarth and Awe expand the ceramic traditions project to include 3D models of ceramics, funded by the Archaeological Institute of America-National Endowment for the Humanities. Funding Information: Awe applies for and receives grant from the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the Canadian International Development Agency to launch a joint archaeology and heritage management project at Cahal Pech in Western Belize. Funding Information: BVAR conservation projects at Cahal Pech and Xunantunich funded by the Tilden Family Foundation Funding Information: The BVAR Project{\textquoteright}s efforts to engage with the public and to conserve archaeological sites for tourism were enhanced when the project began a collaboration with the American Foreign Academic Research (AFAR) program in 2010 [110], and with the Tilden Family Foundation shortly thereafter. The AFAR program offers educational opportunities for high school students from the United States and Belize to conduct archaeological research at Cahal Pech. Each summer BVAR-AFAR has excavated numerous areas across the site core at Cahal Pech and conserved those areas for tourism, while simultaneously training more than 200 high school students in archaeological field methods since 2010. The early efforts focused on preserving the area adjacent to Plaza C and the associated ballcourt through a site preservation grant funded by the Archaeological Institute of America. The strong focus on site conservation continued through the support of the Tilden Family Foundation, with subsequent excavations at Ballcourt 1 [111], the eastern triadic group [112–117] (Figure 5a,b), Strs. B4, B6 and B7 [118], Plaza B [119,120], and Strs. G1 and G2 [121–123] to further enhance the site for tourism. Douglas and Brown{\textquoteright}s work in Plaza H [124–127] has sought to better elucidate the timing of processes associated with Cahal Pech{\textquoteright}s Terminal Classic occupation. Furthermore, excavations in Plaza B led by Ebert have identified a large monumental structure dating to the Preclassic period that likely represents the western radial structure of a Middle Preclassic E-Group at the site, associated with several Middle Preclassic ceramic caches [128,129]. Funding Information: The BVAR Project{\textquoteright}s efforts to engage with the public and to conserve archaeological sites for tourism were enhanced when the project began a collaboration with the American Foreign Academic Research (AFAR) program in 2010 [110], and with the Tilden Family Foundation shortly thereafter. The AFAR program offers educational opportunities for high school students from the United States and Belize to conduct archaeological research at Cahal Pech. Each summer BVAR-AFAR has excavated numerous areas across the site core at Cahal Pech and conserved those areas for tourism, while simultaneously training more than 200 high school students in archaeological field methods since 2010. The early efforts focused on preserving the area adjacent to Plaza C and the associated ballcourt through a site preservation grant funded by the Archaeological Institute of America. The strong focus on site conservation continued through the support of the Tilden Family Foundation, with subsequent excavations at Ballcourt 1 [111], the eastern triadic group [112–117] (Figure 5a,b), Strs. B4, B6 and B7 [118], Plaza B [119,120], and Strs. G1 and G2 [121–123] to further Funding Information: In 2014, funding from the US Ambassador{\textquoteright}s Fund for Cultural Preservation was also awarded to Awe to excavate and conserve the Benque Site, located in the modern town of Benque Viejo, from further destruction and for tourism purposes. Horizontal excavations completely stripped the central buildings at the site, revealing that the small center dates primarily to the Late Classic period, and that it maintained close affiliation with Xunantunich. Since its preservation, the site has become a regular destination for members of the local community, including children from Benque Viejo{\textquoteright}s elementary and high schools. Additionally, the site offers tourists departing through the country{\textquoteright}s western border one last picture of the ancient Maya of Belize. BVAR{\textquoteright}s research and conservation efforts, with support from the Tilden Family Foundation, initiated the Xunantunich Archaeology and Conservation Project (XACP) in 2015 [142,143]. A major focus of XACP, which operates under the joint auspices of the BVAR Project and the Belize Institute of Archaeology, is to continue the TDP{\textquoteright}s conservation and tourism development of the Xunantunich site core [144]. During the summers of 2015 and 2016, Awe directed BVAR excavations at the triadic group (Strs. A2 and A3), Str. A20 atop the Castillo, and Str. A8. The triadic shrine excavations [143] suggested that the group was largely constructed in a single construction episode during the Late-Terminal Classic. Str A20 atop the Castillo was re-opened and conserved to highlight its unique architecture featuring a colonnaded shrine that is reminiscent of Terminal Classic architecture of the northern lowlands [144]. Continuing research over the following several seasons saw the excavation and conservation of Strs. A7, A9, A13, A28, and Group B [145–149]. In 2016, Str. A9 was the site of important new discoveries at Xunantunich, including a royal tomb and two hieroglyphic panels that had once been part of a hieroglyphic stairway at Caracol [142,148,149]. With the defeat of Caracol by Naranjo in AD 670, panels from the stair were dismantled and transported to Naranjo and its allies (Ucanal and Xunantunich) [150–152]. The text contains important dynastic details for the central lowlands, including the death date of rulers from Caracol and the Kanu{\textquoteright}l (Snake) dynasty, and the first epigraphic confirmation of conflict involved in the transfer of power from Dzibanche to Calakmul as the seat of power for the Snake Dynasty [142,148–152]. Furthermore, the single phase of construction of Str. A9 was likely to house the tomb of a female ruler or elite that dates around the same time as the Naranjo defeat of Caracol in the mid-seventh century. Additional excavation and conservation efforts over the past several years have focused on the north palace complex [153], on Ballcourts 1 and 2 [154], Terminal Classic architecture in Plaza A1 [155], and at Group B [147,156]. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.",
year = "2020",
month = sep,
doi = "10.3390/heritage3030040",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "3",
pages = "699--732",
journal = "Heritage",
issn = "2571-9408",
publisher = "MDPI AG",
number = "3",
}