Abstract
This paper examines the relationship between the past, present, and future of Maya heritage and archaeology. We trace some of the background of Maya archaeology and Maya heritage studies in order to understand the state of the field today. We examine and demonstrate how an integrated and collaborative community heritage project, based in Tihosuco, Quintana Roo, Mexico, has developed and changed over time in reaction to perceptions about heritage and identity within the local community. We also describe the many sub-programs of the Tihosuco Heritage and Community Development Project, showcasing our methods and outcomes, with the aim of presenting this as a model to be used by other anthropologists interested in collaborative heritage practice.
Highlights
We examine and frame the connection between the past and the present, the archaeological past and present heritage within Maya anthropological archaeology in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico
When we turn to the present, we see a landscape of modern Maya towns connected to the growing city of Cancun and the rising tourism industry stretching further south along the east coast of the peninsula to Tulum and beyond
Since the 19th century, archaeology has always been considered a central part of the anthropology discipline in the United States, but it was in the middle of the 20th century when a long and complex conversation was initiated about the role and function of archaeology within anthropology
Summary
We examine and frame the connection between the past and the present, the archaeological past and present heritage within Maya anthropological archaeology in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. One of Yucatan’s pasts is a distant past focused upon the ancient Maya—the pre-16th century Maya of Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Coba, and Tulum [1] This past is identified as the definitive story of the Maya people and the Yucatan Peninsula. The stories and heritage of the past and present in the southern states of Mexico are framed and negotiated within Maya communities, as well as within the context of tourism and the powerful state and federal governments [5] This framing and negotiation has resulted in a story of Maya heritage within the communities of the Yucatan, often more connected to the 19th century rebellion than the ancient past. The Tihosuco Heritage Preservation and Community Development Project, described in detail later in this article, highlights this more recent past, and examines how it can be put to use in the present and future
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