THE DEVELOPMENT OF MAYA ARCHAEOLOGY:

TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF RESEARCH

 

(El desarrollo de la arqueología maya: doscientos años de investigaciones)

 

Tomás Barrientos Q. (Universidad del Valle de Guatemala)

 

The discoveries and investigations related to the Maya Civilization have fascinated all the people for more than two centuries. The origins of Maya archaeology go back to the expeditions that originated from the Enlightenment, when curiosity to study non-European cultures began. These travels were recorded in diaries and novels, which soon became very popular and a symbol of the adventurous archaeologist that explore the jungle searching for lost cities. However, at the end of the XIX century, the rise of American Anthropology and Archaeology in the United States gave rise to the methods that created the basis of a highly scientific discipline that still stands out among the social sciences for its search of objectivity. Later on, with the influence of diverse functionalist and evolutionist theories, the Maya region soon became a referent for the main theories about the rise and development of complex societies. During the mid-twentieth century, the decipherment of Maya hieroglyphic writing opened a new field of interpretations, achieving a very close understanding to Pre-Columbian Maya societies. Recently, the investigations in the Maya region have diversified, becoming a multidisciplinary field that has adapted to the latest scientific tendencies. Among these, we can highlight the new chemical laboratory analyses and the development of remote sensing methods for aerial exploring in the tropical jungles. Furthermore, according to the influence of postmodern theories, archaeological research in the Maya region has been more sensitive to its social impact, incorporating a closer relationship with the actual indigenous populations, establishing the concept of Community Archaeology. As an outcome of this, Maya archaeology now represents an opportunity for socioeconomic development through cultural tourism, but it also looks to have an impact in educational programs in order to value and protect this unique archaeological heritage.

 

(Talk in Spanish)