MRP News

Only 2 months to go.

Well, the departure date for this years field season is slowly but surely creeping closer and closer. For myself, this means controlled chaos as I make sure that everything vital will be taken care of while I am gone. The one thing that I really do not need to worry about is packing. I have been doing this long enough that most of what I need is already in Belize. All I really need to do is make sure that my field clothes still fit. Happily they don't, I have lost a little weight and now need to go shopping.

If you are a first time volunteer, then you probably have questions on what what you absolutely need to bring, as well as what might be usefull but not vital. I have started to write a series of posts over on the MRP Forum that will, hopefully, help you to decide what to bring.

I am posting these short articles over on the Forum rather than here, because I feel that it will be easier for people to comment on my suggestions as well as ask questions. Anyone can read the material posted over on the forum, but if you would like to make a comment or ask a question then you must registar. Don't worry it is a painless procedure and only takes a minute. Of course you can always contact me directly with any questions that you might have

See you in Belize, Tim

More new volunteers

More and more people have committed to spending part of their summer with us. Here are some of our newest volunteers.

• Sarah Surasky: University of Indianapolis, Session 1
• Dick Hall: Los Angeles, Session 2
• Anke de Moer: The Netherlands, Session 4
• Eric de Ruyter: The Netherlands, Session 4

A Guide to Blue Creek

Here is a link to the online version of a guide to Blue Creek. This contains general information about Blue Creek as well as information on traveling to Belize, and things to bring. If you are joining us this summer, or still considering it, this is a must read. The answers to many comon questions can be found in the guide.

Blue Creek General Information Guide

MRP Message Board

The Maya Research Program Message Board is back on line in a new and different form. Those of you who are long time followers of MRP on the web know that we took the MRP Message Board offline about six months ago and replaced it with this Blog. We did this because of the amount of spam that was posted on the board each day.

Well the board is back in a different form. Instead of a simple message board I have but up a standard community forum. This type of bulliten board will be familiar to many people who use the web on a daily basis. If you are not familiar with the the structure don't worry it is very easy to use.

If you just want to see what people are saying than you do not have to registar. Simply go to the forum that you are interested in and browse. However if you want to post a new topic or comment on an old topic than you will have to registar. This is a simple process bu neccessary to keep auytomated systems from spamming the forum.

The first place you should go is the new and returning members area. Here you can post a new thread introducing youself. It is a great way to get to know the community. There are also sections devoted camp life, excavations at Blue Creek, the Yaxunah Experience and the tours.

Have fun and contribute as often as you want. Things will be slow at first but will pick up as more people come out and play

Tim

MRP Message Board

Participant List

Here is an updated list of the people who will be joining us this summer. Welcome one and all. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. My email is on the side bar under the "email me" link. Or you can find it in the main web site.

Tim

• Hamilcon Inciarte: Williams College, Sessions 1 & 2
• Melissa Jensen: Western Washington University, Sessions 3 &4
• Dan Kendall: SFSU, Session  2
• Rickey Ketcham: San Marcos, CA, Sessions  2 & 3
• Andrew Maziarski: RutgersUniversity, Session 3
• Cynthia McCreary: Univ of Indianapolis, Sessions 2 & 3
• Alexandra Lauch: Western WashingtonUniversity, Session 3
• Anke van der Moer: Bussium, The Netherlands, S4
• Priscilla Mollard: SFSU, Sessions 1 & 2
• Sarah Surasky: Purdue University, Session 1
• Cath Patterson: Spring Hill, Australia, Session 3
• Jen Patterson: Sandgate, Australia, Session 3
• Richard & Lucy Pittree: Chipita Park, Colorado, Session 2
• Laura Rogers: Texas A&M University, Session 1
• Eric de Ruyter: Bussum, The Netherlands, Session 4
• Greg Spencer: San Manuel, Arizona, Session 1
• Luke Yates: BradfordUniversity (UK), Sessions 1 & 2

Up the river without a paddle.

In our on-going study Mayan trade connections we wave sent several expeditions up the Rio Hondo to document the river conditions on the way to an ancient dock feature. The Mayan dock was discovered and documented by Dr Jason Barret.

This clip gives an idea of the conditions that our expedition had to endure as they trekked up the Rio Hondo. Besides the appalling heat and humidity, the group had to contend with poisonous snakes, voracious fish and a chronic lack or beer.

Video from the Rosita Group.

This is the first of a series of short, very short, videos that show what it like to come to Blue Creek. Theses clips will open a small window onto what it is like to join us for a field season.

I freely admit that the quality is not the best. These clips were shot using the movie setting on a variety of digital still cameras. There has been no further editing. I am an achaeologist not a movie maker.

If anyone out there has clips that show your time at Blue Creek or on one of MRP's trips please send me a copy or a link. I would like to add as many clips as possible.

This clip shows the results of stripping overburden from a small patio group in the Rosita area. You can see  the three structures of the group as well as their doorways. The interior of one structure has been partially cleared revealing an interestingly shaped bench.

The excavations took place during the summer of 2007.

MRP Wins National Geographic Grant

"National Geographic Society's Committee for Research and Exploration has awarded you (MRP) a grant...in support of your proposed project "Excavation and analysis of an well-preserved ancient Maya fieldhouse associated with ancient ditched field agricultural systems at the Classic Maya city of Blue Creek, Belize."

MRP has received a grant from the National Geographic Society to excavate and analyze materials from a buried, well-preserved wooden field house at Blue Creek. This is the first time that such as structure has ever been found in the Maya area. The field house was found next to an ancient canal and was probably used by farmers while cultivating and harvesting. This grant will allow us to bring a group of specialists to Belize during the excavation and will give us the ability to conduct botanical, faunal and soil analyses.

This is great news for us at Blue Creek and especially for the Doctors Beach, Tim and Sheryl, and Dr Tim Bozarth who have been working in the ditched fields for as long as I have known them. Staff at MRP will be excavating the fieldhouse just before this summers field season. Unfortunately, we can not wait for the arrival of volunteers for this project. If the rains start early we will not be able to go ahead with the dig.

I will be postiong information on this excavation as time and internet connections allow, and of course we will be talking about the excavation throughout the summer.

The great pyramid of Cholula with a colonial church on its summit and a modern fieldhouse in the foreground.

Scholarship Deadline.

The Welker Scholarship program still has money to give out, However the deadline is fast approaching. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship please follw the link below back to the main Maya Research Program website.

The deadline for new applications is March 1 , 2008.

Welker Scholarship Page

New Volunteers

We have more new volunteers to welcome to this summers field season.

• Laura Rogers:Session 1
  Texas A&M University
• Luke Yate: Sessions 1 and 2
  Bradford University (UK)
• Kevin Daniels: Session 2
• Lucy & Dick Pittroff: Session 2
  Dallas, Texas
• Dan Kendall: Session 2
  San Francisco State University
• Melissa Jensen: Sessions 3 and 4
  Central Washington University
• Ricky Ketcham: Sessions 2 and 3
  San Diego