Belize: Actuncan Excavation (IFR)

Location: Cayo District, Belize

Session Dates: May 25-June 22, 2025

Application Deadline: February 1, 2025

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://ifrglobal.org/program/belize-actuncan/

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Institute for Field Research (IFR), Binghamton University, and University of North Texas

Project Director:
Dr. David Mixter

Project Description:

Discover the fascinating world of the Maya as you delve into the Actuncan site, a once-thriving pre-Columbian city located along the serene Mopan River valley in western Belize. Join our team in exploring the monumental stone platforms, towering pyramids, and vast public plazas that tell the story of Actuncan’s rise from a small village around 1100 B.C. to a powerful political capital. During this field school, you’ll gain practical archaeological skills while helping to investigate the rise and fall of an ancient Maya city, from its days of royal power to its eventual decline and rebirth as a local community center during the Maya Collapse. Situated just outside Belize’s ecotourism and cultural capital, this immersive program includes excursions to iconic archaeological sites deep in the Belizean jungle, offering a unique blend of field research and cultural exploration. Perfect for students with little to no archaeological experience, this program provides you with the opportunity to gain valuable field skills while experiencing the adventure of a lifetime in the heart of the Maya civilization.

Field school highlights:

• Gain experience in fieldwork, survey, and lab analysis under the guidance of experienced archaeologists and alongside a Belizean excavation team.
• Investigate the transformation of Actuncan throughout the ages.
• Explore Belize’s archaeological treasures, including the sacred Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave, where rituals and human sacrifice took place, the iconic  Xunantunich Mayan Ruins, and more.

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Students are expected to stay the full length of the program.

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: None

Room and Board Arrangements:
Students will stay in an eco-resort, Clarissa Falls Resort, which provides a lovely setting among tropical flowering plants and fruit trees. Accommodations are dorm-style with 3-6 students per room/cottage. Each room has a private bathroom with hot water shower. Meals are served in the resort’s restaurant, and Chena Galvez is a legendary cook in the region. Each day, she and her staff will prepare local favorites such as stewed chicken, beans and rice, fried plantains, and fresh fruit juice for you to enjoy. Breakfast and dinner are served family style at a single long table, where we will get a chance to get to know each other over Chena’s fabulous food. If you have dietary restrictions, please let the project directors know. Chena is used to dealing with a wide range of dietary requirements.

Academic Credit:
8 semester (12 quarter)