Community Archaeology and Ancient Ceramics: Developing an Inclusive Research Design in San Jose Succotz, Belize

Summary

Collaborative archaeology is an approach that promotes the inclusion of modern, indigenous communities in the study of the ancient past. In the Maya area, local communities have recently become more involved with archaeological research at multiple stages, including research design, data collection, and community outreach. At the same time, advances in the qualitative and quantitative study of early ceramics have allowed archaeologists to further elucidate ancient Maya chronology, economy, and socio-political structure. A project design which integrates these recent developments emphasizes the incorporation of local community knowledge into the study of ancient Maya ceramics. This paper, which offers a broad overview of the history of collaborative efforts in the Maya region, serves as a preliminary discussion of a collaborative project established with a local, traditional potter in the village of San Jose Succotz, adjacent to the site of Xunantunich, Belize. The knowledge produced by this project will allow local potters to incorporate ancient techniques into their craft and advance archaeological understandings of ancient ceramics. Further, this introduction of inclusivity into the design and execution of research will help ensure that the knowledge produced is accessible to actors who have traditionally been excluded from academic discourse.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 17392