Digging the Ancient Maya: Star Lords and Warrior Kings

Less than 200 years ago the world of the ancient Maya was virtually unknown and unremarked in studies of ancient civilizations. Today we are still only beginning to understand a society that at its peak rivalled ancient Rome in its breadth and sophistication while still remaining alien and mysterious to the western mind.

In our only program built entirely around replica artifacts, History in Hand brings to life the burial site of a high status Maya Lord from the city of Lamanai, in modern day Belize. Our replicas have been commissioned specifically by History in Hand for these programs and are individually hand-created by our Maya art adviser and our flintknapping expert to be accurate and realistic in every detail. With a focus on restoring broken artifacts scattered through the digsite, students experience first hand the reconstruction work which archaeologists carry out in the field and back in the lab

the Dig Package

The base package for the Ancient Maya dig consists of the following materials which help create an exciting, hands on, archaeological experience for students in the field and in the lab:

  • a Student Primer and a Teacher's Guide in PDF format
  • dowels, string and instructions for setting up and 'salting' the digsite, in this case a simulated burial find of an ancient Maya Lord
  • for the lab: magnifying glasses and toothbrushes are included to assist the students in cleaning and identifying their finds
  • a template for printing a student certificate of completion

The artifacts for the Lamanai dig are:

  • "Kinich Ahau Ayin": a broken ceramic crocodile effigy is the centrepiece of the dig
  • spondylus shell and obsidian razors similar to those used in bloodletting rituals plus an obsidian knife.
  • assorted cowrie and bone beads comprising the remnantsof a waist decoration or belt
  • jade beads in assorted sizes, remnants of the Maya Lord's necklace
  • an ornate eccentric flint like those the Maya used for ceremonial purposes

History in Hand will be commissioning additional works of art for this program to ensure variety for organizations running the dig on an ongoing basis.

The base cost for the Ancient Maya dig package is $695.- plus $5.- per student

Student Activities

History in Hand's Digging the Ancient Maya program puts an emphasis on providing the students a hands-on experience restoring and recreating the items discovered in the burial site.

After carefully unearthing the artifacts, students will work on three restoration projects in the lab: recreating the necklace, the waist belt and reassembling the crocodile effigy. Students will experience the thrill of a real archaeologist carefully fitting together the elements of a long buried artifact and understand what it means to piece together and interpret the puzzles left to us by a vanished civilzation


 Maya Artifacts


All Maya dig kits are composed of the same standard artifacts varying in quantity depending on the number of students involved. Unlike our other programs there are no Special or Premium artifacts for purchase.
The Ancient Maya dig cost per student is $5.

"Kinich Ahau Ayin":

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At the heart of the Maya dig is "Kinich Ahau Ayin", or the "Shining-faced Lord Crocodile". Seen above, the statue (complete at left and broken at right) whose reconstruction is the core activity in this program.

The Simulated Burial:

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The dig for the Ancient Maya program takes the form of a burial site for a high status Maya Lord. Above is the basic configuration the items in this dig will take. (top to bottom: jade beads, eccentric flint, cowrie and bone beads, spondylus shell, obsidian razors, obsidian knife, shattered crocodile statue.)

Click Here for a detailed listing of our Maya dig replica artifacts

Note:
History in Hand respects international policies regarding the import/export of antiquities in all our programs. Please do not request authentic Maya artifacts. Trade in these items is prohibited.

© History in Hand, 2007 - Programs in Archaeology for Students.