Thirty-Two Years of Integrating Archaeology and Heritage Management in Belize: A Brief History of the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance (BVAR) Project’s Engagement with the Public
Since its inception in 1988, the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance (BVAR) Project has had two major foci, that of cultural heritage management and archaeological research. While research has concentrated on excavation and survey, the heritage management focus of the project has included th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Heritage |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/3/3/40 |
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| author | Julie A. Hoggarth Jaime J. Awe Claire E. Ebert Rafael A. Guerra Antonio Beardall Tia B. Watkins John P. Walden |
| author_facet | Julie A. Hoggarth Jaime J. Awe Claire E. Ebert Rafael A. Guerra Antonio Beardall Tia B. Watkins John P. Walden |
| author_sort | Julie A. Hoggarth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since its inception in 1988, the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance (BVAR) Project has had two major foci, that of cultural heritage management and archaeological research. While research has concentrated on excavation and survey, the heritage management focus of the project has included the preservation of ancient monuments, the integration of archaeology and tourism development, and cultural heritage education. In this paper, we provide a brief overview on the history of scientific investigations by the BVAR Project, highlighting the project’s dual heritage management and research goals. This background offers the basis in which to discuss the successes and challenges of the project’s efforts in cultural heritage management and public engagement, particularly in early conservation efforts, in its training and educational efforts, and its ongoing outreach activity. We emphasize the need to train Belizeans as professional archaeologists and conservators, to serve as the next generation of advocates for Belize’s heritage management. We offer some ideas on how research projects can make significant contributions to heritage education and preservation in the developing world. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:40:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bf0ebd179b834f4fb35c650352da10a1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-9408 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:40:54Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heritage |
| spelling | doaj.art-bf0ebd179b834f4fb35c650352da10a12023-11-20T05:54:45ZengMDPI AGHeritage2571-94082020-07-013369973210.3390/heritage3030040Thirty-Two Years of Integrating Archaeology and Heritage Management in Belize: A Brief History of the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance (BVAR) Project’s Engagement with the PublicJulie A. Hoggarth0Jaime J. Awe1Claire E. Ebert2Rafael A. Guerra3Antonio Beardall4Tia B. Watkins5John P. Walden6Department of Anthropology and Institute of Archaeology, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76706, USADepartment of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USADepartment of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USAInstitute of Archaeology, National Institute of Culture and History, Belmopan, BelizeDepartment of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USAInstitute of Archaeology, University of London, Bloomsbury, London WC1H 0PY, UKDepartment of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USASince its inception in 1988, the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance (BVAR) Project has had two major foci, that of cultural heritage management and archaeological research. While research has concentrated on excavation and survey, the heritage management focus of the project has included the preservation of ancient monuments, the integration of archaeology and tourism development, and cultural heritage education. In this paper, we provide a brief overview on the history of scientific investigations by the BVAR Project, highlighting the project’s dual heritage management and research goals. This background offers the basis in which to discuss the successes and challenges of the project’s efforts in cultural heritage management and public engagement, particularly in early conservation efforts, in its training and educational efforts, and its ongoing outreach activity. We emphasize the need to train Belizeans as professional archaeologists and conservators, to serve as the next generation of advocates for Belize’s heritage management. We offer some ideas on how research projects can make significant contributions to heritage education and preservation in the developing world.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/3/3/40Maya archaeologycultural heritagetourismconservationeducationBelizean archaeology |
| spellingShingle | Julie A. Hoggarth Jaime J. Awe Claire E. Ebert Rafael A. Guerra Antonio Beardall Tia B. Watkins John P. Walden Thirty-Two Years of Integrating Archaeology and Heritage Management in Belize: A Brief History of the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance (BVAR) Project’s Engagement with the Public Heritage Maya archaeology cultural heritage tourism conservation education Belizean archaeology |
| title | Thirty-Two Years of Integrating Archaeology and Heritage Management in Belize: A Brief History of the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance (BVAR) Project’s Engagement with the Public |
| title_full | Thirty-Two Years of Integrating Archaeology and Heritage Management in Belize: A Brief History of the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance (BVAR) Project’s Engagement with the Public |
| title_fullStr | Thirty-Two Years of Integrating Archaeology and Heritage Management in Belize: A Brief History of the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance (BVAR) Project’s Engagement with the Public |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thirty-Two Years of Integrating Archaeology and Heritage Management in Belize: A Brief History of the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance (BVAR) Project’s Engagement with the Public |
| title_short | Thirty-Two Years of Integrating Archaeology and Heritage Management in Belize: A Brief History of the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance (BVAR) Project’s Engagement with the Public |
| title_sort | thirty two years of integrating archaeology and heritage management in belize a brief history of the belize valley archaeological reconnaissance bvar project s engagement with the public |
| topic | Maya archaeology cultural heritage tourism conservation education Belizean archaeology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/3/3/40 |
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