The Maya Research Program is a U.S.-based non-profit organization that sponsors archaeological and ethnographic research in Central and South America. Each summer since 1992, we have sponsored archaeological fieldwork at the ancient Maya site of Blue Creek in northwestern Belize. In the past several years we have added an important new ethnographic program in Yaxunah, Mexico. 

Since 1992, research at the Maya center of Blue Creek as been MRP's flagship effort. Blue Creek was a wealthy polity with a city center incorporation major monumental architecture. We have excavated much of the public architecture, discovered one of the Maya area's largest caches of jade, and found a large-scale ancient agricultural system. Blue Creek represents one of the most well-studied and longest-continuity excavations in the Americas. MRP's work at Blue Creek has produced an academic book, dozens of published papers, five doctoral dissertations and more than ten master's theses. Hundreds of undergraduate students and volunteers have participated in the project. The current blue Creek project team includes faculty members and graduate students from a dozen universities. The Blue Creek Project has also been instrumental in documenting and protecting many Maya sites in northwest Belize.

From May to July of each year, MRP hosts multiple two-week sessions for students and volunteers at Blue Creek. Everyone is a full participant in the effort, being involved with field excavations and laboratory work.

2010 Field School Dates: 

Session 1: May 24 - June 6 
Session 2: June 7 - June 20 
Session 3: June 28 - July 11 
Session 4: July 12 - July 25

  Welker Scholarships

The Maya Research Program offers a limited number of scholarships to promising students who will attend Blue Creek for at least two sessions. Students targeted for this award are advanced undergraduate or early graduate students in archaeology. However, we have funded non-majors in the past and all interested students are encouraged to apply. Welker Scholarships honor Bill Welker, an MRP volunteer who passed away while at Blue Creek. The scholarships are funded by the Welker Scholarship Endowment Fund, and supplemented by other generous donors. 

This year we will fund at least 10 students. Each awardee will receive a $1000 scholarship. Recepients are required to spend at least 2 two-week sessions with us. The normal student cost for two full sessions is $2700. Scholarship students will pay just $1700.

To apply please include a scholarship application with your normal enrollment form and associated deposits (can also be found on our website at www.mayaresearchprogram.org ) . The scholarship application packet should outline your background, research interests, related course and/or field work, and future plans in archaeology. You would also be well served by including a letter of recommendation, ideally from a faculty member. The application deadline is usually the April 1 preceding the field season, but since scholarships are limited you are wise to apply early.