Archaeological Field School in Belize, Summer 2005

The 2005 San Estevan Archaeological Project will investigate the origins permanent villages and maize agriculture during the period from 2500-500 BC. Since 1997, The University at Albany-SUNY Belize field schools have trained over 120 undergrads and 35 graduate students at numerous sites across northern Belize. During most of these seasons the remains of Archaic adapted (i.e., non-sendentary and non-ceramic using) peoples were documented under the later period Maya villages we excavated. The research to be performed during the summer of 2005 represents a new project that is a major departure from our past endeavors. In 2001, during a field school visit to the San Estevan site we discovered that the ealiest villages had been exposed by recent land disturbance. During the 2002 season, preliminary test pits confimed the integrity a very early Maya village buried under the mounds at the center of the site. This coming summer we return to investigate the early village in detail. Who were the earliest occupants of San Estevan? Were they Maya? How did life change once people began to use ceramics and live in permanent villages? Join us in Belize this summer and help answer these questions.
	Project Team 2001
	Excavating a new unit
The project runs from June 26 through August 7, 2005. TO SIGN UP: Fill out an application form and send it to Robert Rosenswig, Department of Anthropology, University at Albany-SUNY, 1400 Washington Ave, AS 236, Albany, NY 12222, YOUR POSITION IN THE FIELD SCHOOL WILL BE HELD UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR FIELD COST FEE - $1700 - PAYABLE TO "THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SUNY." Payments will be accepted from now until March 30. THERE IS ROOM FOR ONLY 20 STUDENTS. For more information contact Robert Rosenswig at rrosenswig@albany.edu for a full project briefing. Click Here for a complete informational packet. Also see: www.albany.edu/ims/archaicbelize.html www.albany.edu/ims/photoarchivebpc.html
	Students preparing to map
	Screening for artifacts