Abstract
Collaborative or community archaeology as a methodological approach has a long history and is becoming increasingly common in the Maya world. This article draws from the authors’ experiences on three distinct archaeological projects to discuss the benefits and obstacles we confronted while conducting collaborative research with contemporary Maya communities as well as lessons we learned that can increase the odds of a mutually beneficial partnership. After summarizing the history of the research projects and the expectations for and contributions of the scientific and community stakeholders, we propose several characteristics that were particularly helpful. These include the need for all parties to engage in sincere and sustained dialogue, to be flexible, and to take others in account when making any plans that affect them. Most importantly, we urge archaeologists to collaborate with community endeavors beyond those that are directly related to their research, offering a few examples of how archaeological skills, equipment, and social capital can be used to address a wide range of local concerns beyond patrimony and heritage.
Highlights
In recent years, an increasing number of archeologists have embraced the inherently political nature of our field and worked to share some tangible advantages with the communities most affected by our presence and interpretations
Archaeologists have long noted the importance of this region for understanding ancient economics and politics ([38,39,40]), the difficult political situation described above discouraged all but a few small archaeological projects [21,41,42,43,44,45,46], most of which were conducted before the flood of new residents reached their field sites
This study showed how an archaeological understanding of subtle topographic changes through GIS modelling, and stratigraphy of depressions can directly contribute to community development projects
Summary
An increasing number of archeologists have embraced the inherently political nature of our field and worked to share some tangible advantages with the communities most affected by our presence and interpretations In such community-oriented programs, the design, implementation, and results of archaeological investigation are undertaken in consultation with local populations. These communities are, to varying degrees, involved with the project design, are an active voice in data collection, analyses, and interpretation, and can use the research to further their own community initiatives. NGOs pushing for the forced removal of communities in the name of nature conservation [26,36]
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