Location: Blue Creek, Belize
Season: May 20, 2026 to June 13, 2027
Application Deadline: March 26, 2027
Deadline Type: Exact Date
Program Type:
Field School, Volunteer
RPA Certified:
No
Affiliation:
Western Colorado University
Project Director:
David M. Hyde
Project Description:
Maya Archaeology Field School in Belize
Tzaman Acropolis Research Project (TARP) at La Milpa
May 20–June 13, 2027 | $2,650 | Optional 6 Academic Credits
The Tzaman Acropolis Research Project (TARP) offers an intensive, hands-on introduction to Maya archaeology at the ancient Maya urban center of La Milpa in northwestern Belize. TARP is located within the Programme for Belize conservation area, a 260,000-acre nature reserve that contains more than 80 known ancient Maya sites and supports a remarkable diversity of tropical flora and fauna, including jaguars, two species of monkeys, and numerous bird species.
During this four-week program, participants will live and work at a remote archaeological field camp and take part in ongoing archaeological research at La Milpa and the Tzaman Acropolis. The field school provides practical experience with the methods archaeologists use to document, recover, and analyze archaeological data.
Archaeological Training
Participants will receive hands-on instruction in a variety of archaeological field and laboratory methods, including:
Participants will have the opportunity to work in different aspects of archaeological fieldwork and gain experience with the daily practices of a professional archaeological project.
Field and laboratory training will be supplemented by lectures on Prehispanic Maya archaeology, history, and culture, as well as field trips to other archaeological sites in Belize.
Life in the Field
This is an immersive and physically demanding field school. Participants will spend six days per week excavating and participating in related archaeological activities at La Milpa. Much of the program is practical and takes place outdoors in a tropical environment, and participants should be prepared for strenuous physical activity, manual labor, and working in hot and humid conditions.
Students will live at the R.E.W. Adams Research Station, a professional archaeological research camp. The station includes an archaeological laboratory, kitchen and dining hall, dormitory facilities, and platforms for tents. Participants may choose to share a tent with one other person or stay in a dormitory room shared with three other individuals.
The Adams Research Station hosts field schools and researchers from across the United States, providing participants with an opportunity to meet and interact with students, faculty, and researchers from a variety of backgrounds and institutions. TARP operates under a permit issued through the Belize Institute of Archaeology to Dr. Rissa Trachman, Director of the Programme for Belize Archaeology Project (PfBAP).
Academic Credit
Participants have the option of enrolling for 6 academic credits through Western Colorado University (WCU). The academic-credit option provides students with formal university credit for their participation in the field school and associated archaeological training. There will be additional fees in the amount of $1080 to be paid to WCU for the credits on top of the $2,650 TARP program fee.
Dates and Program Fee
Field School Dates: May 20–June 13, 2027
Program Fee: $2,650
Academic Credit: Optional 6 credits through Western Colorado University (tuition is $1080)
The $2,650 program fee includes:
This field school provides participants with the opportunity to gain practical archaeological skills while contributing to ongoing research at an ancient Maya urban center. Students will experience archaeological excavation and documentation firsthand while living and working in the tropical landscape of northwestern Belize.
For an Application Contact:
Dr. David M. Hyde
Western Colorado University
970-943-2222
dhyde@western.edu
Period(s) of Occupation: Classic Maya
Project Size: 1-24 participants
Minimum Age: 18
Experience Required: None
Room and Board Arrangements:
Program fees cover the cost of room and board, and the group will be staying in the R.E.W. Adams Research Station. We will be sharing the camp with field schools from across the United States providing participants the opportunity to meet and interact with students and researchers from a wide range of backgrounds.
The Adams Research Station includes a lab, kitchen & dining hall, dorm building and platforms for tents. Students will have the option of sharing a tent with one person, or a dorm room with 3 other individuals.
The cost of the program is $2650 which includes:
• Room and board while in camp.
• Project-related ground transportation
• Laundry service once per week
• Use of necessary field equipment and supplies
• Operational and administrative costs and fees
• Weekend field trips to archaeological sites
Academic Credit:
6-Credit course offered through Western Colorado University.
Course Offered: ANTH 497
Dr. David M. Hyde
1 Western Way, Western Colorado University
Gunnison
Colorado
81231
Phone: (970) 943-2222
