Archaeology in Action

Archaeology tells stories about the past, about our ancestors, and about their relationship with the land and world. Today, much of the fight for Indigenous rights is about the control and preservation of land, connecting it to archaeology. Activist Cristina Coc and Dr. Richard M. Leventhal will share how the Maya people of southern Belize are moving forward with the creation of a Maya Homeland with communally owned and controlled land and resources. They will also discuss the development of community museums in the region that focus on identity and representation. And finally, they’ll describe a similar project in Mexico centered around land, identity, and heritage associated with the 19th century rebellion known as the Caste War of the Yucatan.