Location: Indian Church, Belize

Season Dates: May 11, 2013 - June 15, 2013
Session Dates: Session 1: May 11 - June 1, 2013; Session 2: June 2 - June 15, 2013
Application Deadline: March 16, 2012

Website: http://www.trentu.ca/anthropology/belize.php

Program Type
Field school

Affiliation: Trent University

Project Director: Dr. Helen R. Haines

Project Description

Ka'Kabish is a Maya centre dating from the Middle Formative period (ca. 900 B.C.) throught to the Late Post-Classic period (ca. A.D. 1500). Originally, thought to be a secondary administrative centre under the direction of the larger centre of Lamanai 10 km to the east, Ka'Kabish is proving to be far more enigmatic. Despite it's relatively modest size, work at the site has revealed evidence of multiple elite tombs, ritual monumental architecture, and a potential royal acropolis; features indicative of a strong elite occupation and more closely associated with autonomous political centres. This year the project will focus on excavating the main plaza to uncover a Middle Formative ritual deposit and a buried structure.  

Students who wish to obtain a field school credit must participate for the full 5-week period.  Students can also participate for a shorter period of time in either in either Session I  (3-weeks) or Session II (2-weeks) for experience without obtaining a credit. 

Students can access additonal information and download an application form and information brochure from our website www.kakabish.org or from the Trent University Department of Anthropology website http://www.trentu.ca/anthropology/belize.php .

 

Period(s) of Occupation: Formative to Post-Classic Maya

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 2 weeks

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: Previous archaeological experience or course work

Room and Board Arrangements

The project is based in the small village of Indian Church in North-Central Belize. Located along the banks of the New River Lagoon and immediately south of the Lamanai ruins. Participants share accommodations in a small one-story concrete hotel. Each room has a private cold-water bath. Food is prepared at the local woman's collective restaurant with lunches being eaten on site.

Cost: $3000/five weeks not including airfare or tuition ($2400 Session I: $1200 Session II)

Academic Credit
Name of institution offering credit: Trent University
Number of credits offered: 1.0 (1 full year course equivalent)
Tuition: Please see Trent website

Contact Information
Dr. Helen R. Haines, Department of Anthropology - Trent University
DNA Building Block C, Rm C207, 2140 East Bank Drive
Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8
Canada
helenhaines@trentu.ca
Phone: 905-435-5102 ext 5045

Recommended Bibliography

Articles available on project website  http://www.kakabish.org/publications--reports.html