Annual archaeology symposium highlights new discoveries

Few countries, regardless of size, boast an archaeological heritage as rich as ours … and this week leading experts are meeting in Belize City to compare notes on the latest discoveries and developments. News Five’s Alyssa Noble reports from the Bliss.

Alyssa Noble, Reporting
It?s in its fourth year running, and today the Belize Archaeology Symposium brought together some thirty scientists from all over the world who have done research at sites across the country. According to the Institute of Archaeology?s director, the symposium is a chance for Belizeans to get to know their roots.

Jaime Awe, Director, Institute of Archaeology
?We needed to hold these kinds of symposiums here in Belize, because it was imperative that we share the knowledge of research here in Belize with Belizeans. That a lot of this knowledge that was being gathered to be presented locally and that the proceedings, the publications of the day would also be available here in our country.?

Mark Espat, Minister of Culture, National Development and Investment
?One has to look very closely at what took place in Belize and especially as it relates to the Mayan people. We still of course have modern day Maya living in the West and particularly in the south, but this is and should be of interest to all Belizeans. And so, this series of symposiums, these research efforts by the Institute of Archaeology and visiting archaeologists if we are going to make use of it, we have to document it, we have to share it, and we have to make sure that all Belizeans not just students or archaeological enthusiasts and those in the tourism industry, but all of us know what are the reasons for the rise and the fall, so to speak, of what was a great civilization.?

And for those folks who aren?t exactly history buffs, Dr. Awe says you don?t have to hold a PhD to appreciate our past.

Dr. Jaime Awe
?I think archaeology is one of the most exciting things you can ever do in your life. A lot of times people think archaeology is the study of potsherds, and broken bits and pieces of objects. No, archaeology is the study of past human behaviour and what topic is more interesting that humans? I mean we do all kind of wild, crazy and wise things and archaeology presents us with the opportunity to study that.?

In light of recent discoveries, it seems there will be a lot more to learn.

Dr. Jaime Awe
?I mentioned the Spanish sword, we also found a Spanish olive jar in another cave around Roaring Creek. We have found some new sites. In fact there are some sites in the Gracie Rock region where we found paintings on the walls of some of the caves. We?ve also not too long ago, about a year ago, we found this paddle. The first wooden paddle ever found in the Maya world. Well guess what? At that time we were joking about, ?I wonder if anyone will ever find a canoe?? Just about a month ago, a researcher working in Toledo found the remains of an ancient Maya canoe in a cave. We are always coming up with some really amazing discoveries, right here in little, tiny Belize.?

And with so much talk on the importance of these sites and artefacts, Minister of Culture Mark Espat, took the opportunity to reassure the public that there are no plans to privatise or commercially exploit of Belize’s Mayan heritage.

Mark Espat
?Within the context of the National Institute of Archaeology, I can assure you that whatever management is done of the natural heritage of the key sites that come under the Institute of Archaeology will be managed by NICH, by the public sector. There is no intention on the part of our administration to in any way change that arrangement.?

Alyssa Noble reporting for News Five.

The symposium concludes this Friday. There is an entrance fee of five dollars.