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The Blue Creek Project is the flagship
activity of the Maya Research Program. The site is located in the Orange Walk
District of northwestern Belize. MRP has conducted research at Blue Creek since
1992. Over the years a second-to-none research station has evolved to house and
feed students, volunteers, and staff. Pictures of the station and many of the
Blue Creek artifacts, excavations and people are available in the archives section of this web
site.
AVOCATIONAL
ARCHAEOLOGY
MRP's work at the Blue Creek Ruin in Belize
is an important investigation of the Maya civilization. In a large part, MRP's
success over the years is due to the tremendous support of scores of volunteers
and students who work side by side with professional archaeologists, graduate
students, and local Belizeans. Of varying ages, backgrounds, nationalities,
regions, and education levels, MRP's volunteers help to provide financial
resources, valuable field assistance, and many kinds of special
expertise.
In turn, the Maya Research Program offers a unique adventure,
new learning and personal challenges and an opportunity to play an active role
in furthering our understanding of the Maya culture. Some people like the
scientific aspect, others the historical side or the problem-solving aspects.
Past volunteers have reported that they most enjoy the hands-on work, the
intriguing setting, meeting interesting people and being a member of a team with
meaningful objectives.
Generally, volunteers and students have little or
no prior archaeological experience or knowledge of the Maya before coming to
BlueCreek. That's fine, for we will do our best to teach and train you in
several ways: in an initial orientation session, in periodic lectures and visits
to other nearby sites, and informal on-the-job instruction. You will be an
active and important member of the MRP team, so you are encouraged to ask
questions. We can't make you an expert during your brief time with us, but you
will certainly learn a great deal. Additional information for the first-time
participant on what to expect, what to bring, etc is discussed in the Blue Creek General Information
document.
Since MRP has worked Blue Creek for so long there is a
considerable body of work related to the site. Included here are links to
selected items which should give you a good sense of what Blue Creek is all
about. In additon, not discussed here, are theses, reports, publications, and
papers that have come from the many scholars who have been able to use the Blue
Creek site as the basis for their research.
SIGN UP NOW!
If you
are interested in enrolling in this project, click here for additional information and the enrollment
form.
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