Belize Archaeology Field School

People climbing a pyramid

The Humboldt Belize Archaeology Field School involves field survey, excavation at several Maya sites, and laboratory experience working directly with excavated Maya artifacts. Field techniques, lectures on Maya culture history and instruction concerning artifact analysis are provided. The field school is directed by Dr. Marisol Cortes-Rincon.

The project area of the Programme for Belize Archaeology Project (PfBAP) is in northwestern Belize on land owned by the Programme for Belize, a Belizean controlled non-profit organization. The Humboldt field school works under a permit issued from the Institute of Archaeology to Dr. Fred Valdez, Director of the Programme for Belize Archaeology Project (PfBAP).  PfBAP research focuses on the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area, a nature reserve of more than 250,000 acres. The research area is home to a great variety of neotropical wildlife, including many birds and monkeys.

What You'll Learn

Field work requires physical labor, great sense of humor, and a good attitude. You will learn about Belizean cultures, Maya archaeology, and cultural sensitivity, and more. You will attend field school meetings, lectures, to spend many hours in the field taking part in field survey and/or excavations. You also will reflect upon and write about your experiences in a field journal and papers.

The instructor and teaching assistant will teach you how to carry out survey, interpret LiDAR data, excavation, and laboratory techniques. You will be asked to put into practice everything you are learning.

This program has two major interrelated themes. The first theme will be an examination of Belizean cultures via an anthropological viewpoint. Cultural anthropology is one of the four main areas of study within the discipline of anthropology. You will study modern Belizean life ways, the sociocultural history of the country, verbal traditions, and the impact of tourism and development, among other things. You will also become well-versed in cultural sensitivity and intercultural communication.

The second theme — archaeology — includes practical training in field techniques and classes relating to archaeology and settlement studies. Archaeology is the study of ancient cultures through the analysis of material cultural remains. This field school will serve as an introduction to the basic methods and techniques used in material cultural analysis, and provide you an excellent opportunity for hands-on learning. You will make observations of archaeological finds and learn associated field techniques.

Two people looking at pieces of pottery   People in a boat in the forest

When you finish this program, you should:

  • have a working knowledge of archaeological methods for field and laboratory research, including survey, excavation, stratigraphic interpretation, dating, classification, and typology.
  • have learned how archaeologists make inferences about human behavior and practice by recognizing patterns in the distribution, form, and context of material remains.
  • understand how archaeological records are created and transformed.
  • understand the major transformations in human prehistory, the sites that are important to their understanding, and the theories archaeologists have proposed to explain them.
  • have developed a sense of stewardship over the irreplaceable resources of the archaeological record.
  • understand and reflect upon many cultural practices and the history of the people of Belize.
  • appreciate the difficulties and joys of living and working in “foreign” cultures and the wisdom such experiences can produce

While taking part in the program, you will earn credit for:
  • ANTH 485, 1 unit, Belize Field Program Preparation
  • ANTH 357, 5 Units, Field Archaeology
Dates (preliminary)
  • May 19 – June 16, 2024

Budget

  • Program fee: $2,300 (preliminary)Covers in-program costs between pick-up and drop-off at the arrival airport. This includes travel to the site and back, lodging at the site, laundry, some sightseeing trips as a group, and meals during the program. Students are responsible for additional costs for any choice travel, outings, and snacks, etc... before/during/after the program. *If you choose to attend less than the full time (e.g., 3, 2 or 1 week), the costs may be prorated - please contact the program director to discuss options. 
  • Tuition: $300 per unit: You can choose to take the full 6 units or go for 0 units with instructor permission. 
  • International health insurance (preliminary): $85 - students enroll in a CSU-wide provider.
  • Travel to and from Belize: Cost varies. Students are responsible for their own travel. Flights are generally least expensive if purchased in advance and if flying from a major airport. Students are advised to not purchase airfare until their acceptance to the program is verified; however, keep in mind that fares are lower with early purchase. Students are advised to purchase flight insurance; the program shall not reimburse students for airfare if for any reason the student does not attend the program or if incorrect flights are purchased prior to confirming arrival information with faculty. 
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Application Information

Contact Information

Marisol Cortes-Rincon, Ph.D.
Professor, Anthropology
Director, Geospatial Archaeology Research Laboratory
Co-Director, Cultural Resources Facility
Cal Poly Humboldt
Office: 707-826-4335
Humboldt students in mosquito nets