Belize

NimLi Punit and Lubaantun-partially cleared. restored and
protected. are open to the public (Fig. 111-2).
The Department of Archaeology
Under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. this department
is responsible for the management of all pre­
Columbian and historical resources in the country. The
staff is inadequate to meet this responsibility. TIlC archaeology
commissioner. two archaeologists, two assistants,
five caretakers. and one foreman make up the entire archaeo!ogy
stafr'. Currently. three trained Peace Corps volunteers
work in the Department of Archaeology. and various other
volunteers, mostly untrained, augment the staff on an irregular
basis. One archaeologist recen tly resigned frum thl'
department to work on an advanced degree. The Commissioner
of Archaeology and one assistant are also absent
from the country pursuing advanced studies.
The archaeology budget is about 135110,000 to cover
salaries, vehicle maintenance, fuel, and site maintenance
(recurrent expenses). However, the Department of Archaeology
accrues additional benefits from foreign research programs.
Archaeological projects funded from abroad donate
15% of their project budget to the archaeological program.
This contribution may be in the form of equipment and
supplies at the end of the project or, in the case of architectural
structures, the stabilization of the structures on the
site. Archaeological projects funded and staffed by foreign
institutions, including Southern Methodist, University of
Pennsylvania, and the Royal Ontario Museum, have
increased substantia":' during the last decade (see Fig. 1lI-2,
Table III-I), due to political stability of the country, to
recent recognition that Belize once supported a large, advanced
Mayan population, and to the discovery that some
sites were occupied as early as 2500 13.c. (Hammond 1982)
by people culturally Mayan.
Little would be gained by an extensive archaeological
survey at this time. The Department of Archaeology has
already mapped hundreds of sites but is reluctant to publish
specific information because of an anticipated increase in
"grave robbing". Much time and money is expended in investigating
reports of site degradation caused by looters and
the Department fears that releasing information on specific
sites will only contribute to the illegal trade in Mayan artifacts.
Site protection from vandals and preservation of uncovered
sites from the elements arc greatly needed, but
since there would be little economic return for funds invested,
this will continue to be a low priority national
Table" 1-1. Recent archaeological research projects, major institutions involved with the site, and research design or
special features. Numbers on Fig. "1-2 correspond with map code numbers listed below for selected sites
(Source: Department of Archaeology, Belmopan)
Map
Code Site Name
Ahun Ha
2 Cerros
2 Cerros
3 Xunantunich
3 Xunantunich
4 Lubaantun
5 NimLi Punit
4 Lubaantun
16 Pusilha
Project/Researcher
Royal Ontario Museum
Dr. David Pendergast
Southern Methodist U.
Dr. David Freidel
Southern Methodist U.
Cathy Crane
GeoOntological Society
Don Marken, Merle Robertson
Royal Ontario Museum
Dr. David Pendergast
SUNY, New York, Albany
Dr. R. Leventhal
Harvard U.
Dr. R. Leventhal
Year(s)
1964-
1970
1973-
1980
1982
1984
1979
1982-
1984
1979-
1980
Research/Special Features
Mayan distribution center in the
northern 13elize area; the largest carved
jade from a Mayan site was found here.
Development of a Mayan coastal trading
center in the late Preclassic period.
Mayan agricultural practices and wild
plants utilization.
Geophysical and remote sensing.
Salvage excavations due to heavy looting.
Archaeological survey.
Survey of southern 13elize from
Lubaantun to Pusilha, and preliminary
excavations at Pusilha.
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