University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Maya Archaeologists rescuing ancestral heritages from plowing in Belize.

Wang, Yifan

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wang_yifan.jpeg

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/126434

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Title
Maya Archaeologists rescuing ancestral heritages from plowing in Belize.
Author(s)
Wang, Yifan
Contributor(s)
Thanks Dr. Lisa Lucero and PhD candidate Rachel Taylor for appearing in this picture and have a wonderful field season rescuing ancestral Maya heritage together!
Issue Date
2024
Keyword(s)
Anthropology
Abstract
This image captures a typical working scene of our Valley of Peace Archaeology project team, as we endeavored to rescue ancestral Maya immovable cultural heritage amid the encroaching tide of modern agriculture in Central Belize, 2022. Collaborating closely with local communities, we aimed to uncover and document ancient Maya neighborhoods, racing against time, deforestation, and agricultural plowing.In the foreground, Professor Dr. Lisa Lucero and doctoral candidate Rachel Taylor are sorting and cataloging artifacts freshly unearthed from a Maya household that whispers tales from a millennium past, spanning 300 BCE to 900 CE. As the forest canopy recedes, the once predictable local climate turns capricious, confounding even the most experienced Maya farmers. Throughout June, our team conducted excavations under the relentless sun, enduring temperatures soaring above 90 degrees, braving gusty winds and sudden downpours, with the only shade of palapas woven from palm leaves.My research delves into the ancestral Maya's symbiotic interaction with their environment and wildlife, unraveling these ancient narratives through geochemical analysis of animal remains found at archaeological sites. The ancestral Maya wisdom of sustainability offers a referential experience for our contemporary societies in a world where the human-nature bond is increasingly fraught.
Type of Resource
  • text
  • image
Language
eng

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Image of Research - Graduate Students PRIMARY