Thursday, September 23rd, 6:00–7:00 PM!
Lafayette 207, at the University of Vermont
Thousands of structures and artifacts have been documented within the 2000 km2 study area of the Belize River East Archaeology (BREA) Project, spanning at least 3,400 years, from the Late Archaic to Post-Classic/Contact periods. We will discuss the application and differential efficacy of some of the methods used (e.g., ethnography, geoarchaeological coring, pedestrian reconnaissance, drone mapping, as well as surface/subsurface sampling and excavation) to investigate this environmentally diverse area. Additionally, some of this work has been driven by salvage efforts as forest clearance has increased exponentially in the last decade in central Belize. We describe our efforts to piece together an understanding of the cultural chronology of the region by documenting and conserving threatened archaeological remains, and discuss the unexpected silver linings of modern disturbance, including improved visibility into the extent of millennia-old raised agricultural fields.
Download the Flyer (PDF)