Foothill Belize Program
June 27 to July 24, 2010
FOOTHILL BELIZE PROGRAM APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE. Download here.
Get you application in soon, only a few spaces remain.
Join us in the Belizean tropics this summer for an excellent archaeology and cultural experience with course work, field trips, and service learning projects.
Discover with us the beauty of Belize as we continue our investigation of the ancient Maya sites of El Aguacate in the heartland of Mesoamerica.
Live with us and other project members in the shadows of the Maya temples.
Work on all aspects of the research project, including archaeological survey and excavation and community development activities.
Project Directors & Professors
Dr. Samuel Connell, Foothill College
Dr. John Morris, Institute of Archaeology, Belize
What will you be doing in Belize?
- You will be living next to an ancient Maya city.
- You will be excavating incredible archaeological sites.
- You will learn about a country by immersing yourself in the culture of a people.
- You will visit places you won't believe exist.
- You will be happy you came.
Daily Activities
Days will be spent immersed in the culture of Belize both past and present. To learn about the past the student will learn the basic field techniques of archaeology, including excavation, survey and laboratory analysis. Classwork will cover some archaeology methods and theory, as well as Maya archaeology. For more details about our research and the past findings, please see the project website set up with information for all students applying to the program http://sites.google.com/site/foothillbelizeprogram/home
Field trips for students will be called Faculty Developed Practica (FDP) designed to foster intercultural knowledge. Students will be required to take part in these trips. For example students will travel to indigenous communities, market towns, ancient archaeological sites and museums. The primary FDPs will be trips to Dangriga, the center of the Garifuna population; and to Toledo, the district in southern Belize with many Maya villages.
Service learning projects will be designed by the students as a way to apply your newfound anthropology background to discover real-life solutions to practical community problems. These will be conducted in a dynamic format with students conducting field research to determine a course of action.
We are located in one of the centers for ecotourism in the world. It is a backpackers paradise, with amazing opportunities for canoeing, caving and hiking all over the region. We are a 15 minute drive from the Guatemalan border and the wonderful markets of Melchor. The majestic pyramids of Tikal are a little over two hours from San Ignacio. Buses are cheap and direct. For the adventurous, Caribbean islands and the Yucatan peninsula are a half day trip from our home. Belize is a truly remarkable place, and we are excited to share its wonders with you, and meanwhile to do some really interesting archaeology!
Description of the Archaeology
The 2010 Project will continue our investigations of the large Maya centers of Aguacate in western Belize. The sites are in pristine condition and have been protected on the lands of Mennonite farmers who have lived in Belize for half a century. The Belize River Valley has long been known to be an important place to study the Maya and we are lucky to be collaborating under a unique partnership between UCLA and the Government of Belize's Institute for Archaeology. Drs. John Morris and Samuel Connell both received their degrees studying Maya political and social organization in the region. Our new investigation of the site of Aguacate promises to be an important contribution to the field of Maya prehistory because the site is located adjacent to an amazing lagoon. Research in 2009 survey made a remarkable discovery with a second large site uncovered a few kilometers away. We are now faced with the task of exploring two Maya centers.
Research in 2009 began with the survey and mapping of the first Aguacate site and its surrounding settlements, including the structures associated directly with the lagoon. In addition, we were using a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) instrument to survey the structures of site. Simultaneously, the project undertook a test excavation program of the main plaza and a number of the large temple structures located in the heart of the site. Here in the jungle, the pyramids are guarded by bellowing howler monkeys and quick moving spider monkeys leaping through the canopy. In addition, pathways of leaf cutter ants wind their way through the underbrush.
The 2010 project in Belize will be an excellent opportunity to learn how to be a field archaeologist on a Maya site that has heretofore not been studied by archaeologists. The first week will consist of intensive field training of students in the practice of archaeology, including survey and mapping, excavation techniques, laboratory analysis and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Dr. Connell is an expert in the field of geophysics which includes remote sensing techniques such as Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and he will be showing students how to use the instrumentation in the field.
You will be taking part in an archaeological project from the ground up, with the initial survey and test excavations set to start in the summer of 2009. So please join us as we embark on this new adventure in Maya archaeology.
Students are trained in mapping, field excavation, and laboratory analysis. The project also utilizes Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to detect subsurface features and uses a Geographic Information System (GIS) to analyze data.
Food and Lodging
Foothill Program students will be residing in San Ignacio Town, in the Cayo District. Participants will stay in dormitory style rooms in the town center. Cayo sits one and a half hours by bus travel inland from Belize City where the airport is located. San Ignacio is a wonderful multi-cultural place to live, and is used as the hub of ecotourism for all of Belize.
Class Numbers
Foothill College Summer Quarter: (12 Units)
ANTH 11 ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD METHODS (4 units)
ANTH 12 APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY (4 units) [Available Summer 2010]
SOSC 36Z SPECIAL PROJECTS IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (4 units)
Program Fees & Tuition: (Includes food, lodging, and travel in country- NOT airfare). Basically all project activities between the above dates while in Belize. Many participants take advantage of being in one of the most beautiful places on earth and spend time adventuring either before or after the field school.
Program Fees: $2100.00
Tuition: variable cost
CA In-state ($17.00 per unit). Total registration fees: $246.50
Out-of-state ($122.00 per unit). Total registration fees: $1506.50
International ($130.00 per unit). Total registration fees: $1602.50
Financial Aid and Scholarships will be available. We are working with Foothill College to develop this.
All ages are welcome from high school graduates to long ago retired. We believe in letting people go at their own pace. If you are concerned about your abilities to keep up with the group, please don't be worried.
Contact information
Samuel Connell
Foothill College Anthropology Department
12345 El Monte Rd.
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
USA
650-949-7197
connellsamuel@foothill.edu
Bibliography
Required Reading
McKillip, Heather
2006 The Ancient Maya: New Perspectives W.W. Norton. (earlier used editions are acceptable).
Awe, Jaime.
2005 One Hundred and One Questions on the Maya: Print Belize, Belmopan. (available in country for $25.00)
FAQ
Q. Who Can Apply?
A. Anyone with a high school diploma.
Q. Do I need to be an archaeologist?
A. Certainly not.
Q. Will there financial aid?
A. We are working on this through the Foothill Foundation and Financial Aid at Foothill.
ALL OTHER QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED VIA THE PROJECT WEBSITE
http://sites.google.com/site/foothillbelizeprogram/
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