heritage Article 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 1, , 2,3, , 4 3,5 Julie A. Hoggarth * y , Jaime J. Awe * y, Claire E. Ebert , Rafael A. Guerra , Antonio Beardall 2,3, Tia B. Watkins 6 and John P. Walden 4 1 Department of Anthropology and Institute of Archaeology, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76706, USA 2 Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA; [email protected] 3 Institute of Archaeology, National Institute of Culture and History, Belmopan, Belize; [email protected] 4 Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; [email protected] (C.E.E.); [email protected] (J.P.W.) 5 Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA 6 Institute of Archaeology, University of London, Bloomsbury, London WC1H 0PY, UK; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] (J.A.H.); [email protected] (J.J.A.); Tel.: +1-254-710-6226 (J.A.H.) These authors contributed equally to this work. y Received: 31 May 2020; Accepted: 30 June 2020; Published: 5 July 2020 Abstract: 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. Keywords: Maya archaeology; cultural heritage; tourism; conservation; education; Belizean archaeology 1. Introduction As archaeology has progressed as a discipline, a variety of archaeological methods and theories have placed an increasing focus on public archaeology that makes archaeological research more inclusive. The development of post-processualism was particularly important in understanding the need for multivocality in the conveyance of archaeological knowledge to a wide range of audiences and stakeholders. Today, archaeologists recognize that they cannot detach their field programs from efforts to communicate information to the public [1]. This broader focus has also identified tensions between different segments of society, with archaeology often being appropriated by the media, public discourse, national identity building, and the conservators of cultural heritage. These developments are clearly identifiable in Maya archaeology, where continuing archaeological research is used for development Heritage 2020, 3, 699–732; doi:10.3390/heritage3030040 www.mdpi.com/journal/heritage Heritage 2020, 3 FOR PEER REVIEW 2 between different segments of society, with archaeology often being appropriated by the media, Heritagepublic2020 discourse,, 3 national identity building, and the conservators of cultural heritage. These 700 developments are clearly identifiable in Maya archaeology, where continuing archaeological research is used for development efforts by Mundo Maya countries (Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, effandorts El by Salvador). Mundo Maya Researchers countries are (Belize,therefore Mexico, increasingly Guatemala, tailoring Honduras, their efforts and to El navigate Salvador). the complex Researchers areprocesses therefore of increasinglybuilding projects tailoring that both their involv effortse tothe navigate public and the benefit complex local processes communities of building [2]. projects that bothIn this involve paper, the we public describe and the benefit history local of the communities Belize Valley [Archaeological2]. Reconnaissance (BVAR) Project’sIn this research paper, weand describe public archaeology the history outreach of the Belize programs. Valley As Archaeological a project directed Reconnaissance by Belizean (BVAR)and Project’sforeign researcharchaeologists, and public we recognize archaeology the outreachimmense programs.responsibility As our a project project directed has to bypreserve Belizean the and foreigncultural archaeologists, heritage of Belize we recognize and to disseminate the immense that responsibility information our to projectthe Belizean has to preservepublic. First, the cultural we heritagedescribe of the Belize research and toand disseminate conservation that informationefforts of the to BVAR the Belizean Project’s public. regional First, archaeological we describe the researchinvestigations. and conservation This history efforts helps of to the frame BVAR the Project’s lessons regional learned archaeological by the project’s investigations. conservation This efforts, history helpsits training to frame and the educational lessons learned initiatives by theundertaken project’s over conservation the past 30 efforts, years, itsand training our ongoing and educational diverse initiativesheritage management undertaken over programs. the past Our 30 efforts years, andaimed our at ongoing identifying diverse the diverse heritage goals management and interests programs. of stakeholders are critical for designing a more inclusive project attuned to the needs of cultural Our efforts aimed at identifying the diverse goals and interests of stakeholders are critical for designing a heritage management in Belize [3]. more inclusive project attuned to the needs of cultural heritage management in Belize [3]. 2.2. Project Project History History Cultural heritage management initiatives have been a major focus of BVAR archaeologists since Cultural heritage management initiatives have been a major focus of BVAR archaeologists since its its inception in 1988, created and directed by Jaime Awe and jointly administered with Co-Directors inception in 1988, created and directed by Jaime Awe and jointly administered with Co-Directors Julie Julie Hoggarth, Claire Ebert, and Rafael Guerra, and Assistant Director John Walden. A major Hoggarth, Claire Ebert, and Rafael Guerra, and Assistant Director John Walden. A major concern for the concern for the project is the protection of cultural resources in Western Belize (Figure 1), which is, projectin fact, is clearly the protection definedof in cultural the project’s resources first inannual Western progress Belize report (Figure in1 ),which which Awe is, in and fact, Campbell clearly defined [4] instated the project’s the following: first annual progress report in which Awe and Campbell [4] stated the following: “The reason for investigating Cahal Pech were, and are, developmental and research oriented. “The reason for investigating Cahal Pech were, and are, developmental and research In reference to the former our objectives were to, (1) halt further destruction of the center, oriented. In reference to the former our objectives were to, 1) halt further destruction of the (2) produce a map of the site demarcating an area to be established as a National Park, center, 2) produce a map of the site demarcating an area to be established as a National and (3) obtain the data necessary to publish a preliminary guidebook for use in schools and for Park, and 3) obtain the data necessary to publish a preliminary guidebook for use in schools promoting tourism. Our research interests were concerned with the diachronic development and for promoting tourism. Our research interests were concerned with the diachronic ofdevelopment the site, plus of a studythe site, of theplus architectural, a study of artisticthe architectural, and socio-political artistic and relationship socio-political between Cahalrelationship Pech and between sitesin Cahal the BelizePech and River sites Valley in the Region” Belize River [4] (pg. Valley 1). Region” [4] (pg. 1). Figure 1. Map of western Belize, showing the locations of BVAR research and conservation projects conducted between 1988 and 2020. Map by C.E. Ebert. This dual research and heritage management focus has continued to guide the project throughout its history, working at more than 30 surface and cave sites throughout the project’s history (Table1). Heritage 2020, 3 701 Upon the official inception of the BVAR Project, research was focused within the site core at Cahal Pech [4]. Subsequent years saw continuing investigations within the monumental epicenter as well as excavations across the site’s periphery [5]. Awe’s [6] seminal research offered important information on the Preclassic Maya, establishing the Cunil ceramic complex through radiocarbon and ceramic data, identifying some of the earliest evidence of sedentary villages in the Maya Lowlands dating to ~1000 cal BC, documenting round structures that likely served as performance platforms for Preclassic community ritual, and recording the largest Preclassic figurine collection