(message moved from jobs forum - webmaster)


Hi all, my name is Daniel Leonard, I am a PhD candidate in Maya archaeology at the University of California Riverside, and I am looking for a few volunteers to assist me with my Spring 2010 wetland archaeology survey in SE Mexico.  I particularly need help during the month of April.

 Details are below.  If interested, please email me ASAP a cv and brief explanation of your interest and availability (in the body of the email) to daniel.leonard@email.ucr.edu.  Also feel free to email me with any questions you may have.  Thanks!

 

Project Background: The Yalahau region, in northern Quintana Roo, Mexico, has been home to Maya people for nearly 3000 years.  The region is unique for the presence of a large freshwater wetland network that would have provided water, plant, and animal resources to the ancient Maya inhabitants of the area.  Since 1993, the Yalahau Regional Human Ecology Project (YRHEP, directed by Prof. Scott Fedick of UC Riverside and Prof. Jennifer Mathews of Trinity University), has studied ancient settlement and land use in the Yalahau.  YRHEP has identified 93 ancient sites surrounding the wetland system.  Low rock walls/berms discovered in several wetlands suggest the Maya were controlling soil and water in order to be able to farm in wetlands.  My dissertation research (a component of the YRHEP) involves surveying unexplored wetlands to search for new agro-engineering features and understand how different wetlands could have been more ecologically suitable for use by the ancient Maya.

Project Plan:  We will conduct reconnaissance survey in 10-15 wetlands in search of rock walls or other agro-engineering features.  Features will be mapped with Garmin GPS units and notes will be taken on associated plant communities and soils to establish a correlation between features and environmental conditions.  We will conduct topographic transects, excavate soil pits, and map any ruins encountered near wetland edges.

Timeline, Logistics, and Participant Costs: Fieldwork is scheduled for April 6 through June 30, 2010.  I would like volunteers to stay for at least one month, but longer is fine.  The project house is located in the town of Kantunilkin, about 2 hours west of Cancun.  The house is small but comfortable.  There are two bathrooms, a kitchen, and dormitory-style sleeping arrangements in bunk beds or hammocks.  The cost of house rental is covered, but volunteers are expected to pay for travel to/from Cancun and food/groceries (approximately $200/month).  I may be able to cover some of these costs depending on availability of grant funds and number of interested volunteers.

Mandatory Qualifications for Volunteers: Completion of archaeological field school.  Ability to hike up to 5 miles per day mostly through mushy wetland soil, but also over rocky terrain, through jungle, and always in extreme heat.  You MUST be respectful, easy going, flexible (regarding frequently-changing schedules and work plans), able to work well and get along with others, and able to handle living in close quarters with other project members at the project house.

Desired Qualifications for Volunteers:  Field experience or coursework in Maya archaeology.  Experience in pedestrian survey.  Familiarity with use of handheld Garmin GPS units. Interest in environmental archaeology, prehistoric agriculture, wetland ecology, or GIS/remote sensing.