The Maya Research Program (MRP) is a non-profit organization (501 C3) that sponsors archaeological and ethnographic research in Middle America. Each summer since 1992, MRP has supported archaeological research in northwestern Belize. The Blue Creek Archaeological Project includes research at the sites of Blue Creek, Xnoha, Nojol Nah, Tulix Mul, and Grey Fox (You can read many MRP publications here.) MRP has been instrumental in documenting and protecting numerous Maya sites in northwestern Belize. Over 3000 students and volunteers have participated in the project in the past 24 years. The current Blue Creek project team includes faculty members and graduate students from over a dozen universities worldwide. In addition, the Blue Creek field school has been certified by the Register of Professional Archaeologists and is affiliated with the University of Texas at Tyler.

This summer marks MRP’s Blue Creek Archaeological Project’s  25th archaeological field season in northwestern Belize.  MRP is proud to support a vast range of talented researchers from across the globe under this project’s umbrella. Our research associates include not only archaeologists, but also soil scientists, geoarchaeologists, geographers, conservationists, cultural anthropologists, bioarchaeologists, and botanists.

From May to July of each year, MRP hosts four two-week sessions for students and volunteers at Blue Creek. Everyone is a full participant in the effort and is involved with field excavations and laboratory work. You can read more about what to expect at the MRP's field school in our Participant Guide.

Scholarships and fellowships are available.

2016 Season Dates (must participate in at least one two-week session):
Session 1: Monday  May 30th  - Sunday  June 12th
Session 2: Monday  June 13th  - Sunday  June 26th
(*WEEK BREAK*)
Session 3: Monday  July 4th  -  Sunday July 17th
Session 4: Monday July 18th - Sunday July 31st

Application Process:   The maximum number of participants for each 2-week session ranges from 25 to 30 students and volunteers. Participants will be accepted to the archaeology field school on a first come, first served basis. To enroll, the applicant should forward an enrollment form  to the Maya Research Program. You should also read MRP's Participant Guide.

Cost:   The donation for a single two-week session for non-students is $ $1750 USD. A special first-session rate of $1500 is available to students currently enrolled in an accredited University or College. If more than one session is desired, the donation is $1200 for each additional session. (For instance, a student would pay $1500 USD for their first 2 week session and $1200 USD for their second 2 week session for a total of $2700 for 4 weeks. Students are encouraged to apply for a MRP scholarship to reduce thier cost to $1700 for 4 weeks. ) A non-refundable deposit of $250 per session is required to hold your spot. (Participants are responsible for their travel costs to Belize). If a student wishes to receive academic credit, tuition costs (via the University of Texas at Tyler or their home institution) will apply in addition to the required donation to the Maya Research Program.  
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Maya Research Program's expanded course offerings in archaeological field and laboratory techniques: The Maya Research Program offers specialized laboratory and field courses for students and volunteers in addition to the general archaeological field school. The specific study areas for the specialized laboratory and field courses are: 
  1.   Laboratory and Field Methods: PXRF and Artifact Analysis (PXRF, ceramics, lithics, groundstone, obsidian analysis) -  limited to 5 persons in Session 3 only.
  2.   Laboratory and Field Methods: Bioarchaeology (the study of human skeletal remains) -limited to 10 persons in Session 3 only.
  3.   Laboratory and Field Methods: Photogrammetry and 3D Digital Modeling - limited to 10 persons in Session 4 only.  

Student participants can obtain academic credit through the University of Texas at Tyler or via their home institution through Independent Study and similar courses. Non UTT students can also take these classes through UTT as transient student (click here for the University of Tyler registrar’s webpage).
Individuals who do not wish to receive academic credit may also take these courses.

Cost for Specialized  Laboratory and Field Methods : The donation for for a single two-week session for non-students is $2000 USD. A special first-session rate of $1750 is available to students currently enrolled in an accredited University or College. If more than one specialized session is desired, the donation is $1450 for each additional session. A non-refundable deposit of $250 per session is required to hold your spot. If a student wishes to receive academic credit, tuition costs (via UT Tyler or their home institution) will apply in addition to the required donation to the Maya Research Program.
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Additional Information:
Click here for the 23rd Annual Report of the Blue Creek Archaeological Project (2014) Additional publications are available here. You can also read MRP's Participant Guide here.

Interested in joining the team? Call 817-831-9011 or email Dr. Tom Guderjan : mrpinquiries@gmail.com