Publications

BVAR Research Reports (1988-2022)

BVAR Publications

Honors Theses, Masters Theses, and Ph.D. Dissertations

2024

Baer, Kelly J. (2024). Investigating Photogrammetry as a Method of Developing Educational Materials for Archaeo-Tourism and Public Education at Xunantunich, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Lewis, Abigail (2024) The Ideological Significance of Monkeys in the Maya World: An Ethnoarchaeological Approach. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Tejeda-Barillas, Lilian G. (2024) Life, Death, and Renewal: A Regional Analysis of Maya Sweat Baths in Western Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

2023

Gescheider, Robert (2023) Rounds of Negotiations in the Underworld: Transformations of Ritual Cave Practices and Ancient Maya Society. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Ramirez, Estevan (2023) Investigating Preclassic Occupation in the Site Core of Xunantunich. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Ratcliffe, Jessica (2023) Demarcating Space and Creating Place: Examining the Processes for Creating Sacred Landscapes by the Ancient Maya of Western Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

2022

Lee, Jordan A. (2022) Caches in the Court: The Ideological Significance of Eccentric Lithics from Ballcourt 2, Xunantunich. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Yost, Scott M. (2022). Interpreting the Maya Ideoscape through Monumental Reuse and Spoliation. BA Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

2021

Bachy, Michelle. (2021) Mortuary Practices as Indicators of Wealth and Inequality at Lower Dover Belize. Honors Thesis, Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh.

Beardall, Antonio. (2021) Public Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Management in Belize: Successes and Shortcomings. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Guerra, Rafael A. (2021) Lower Dover, Belize: A Case Study for a Rapid Growth Community During the Terminal Classic Period in the Maya Lowlands. PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico.

Rovito, Benjamin. (2021). Analysis of the A1/A2 Alleyway Peri-Abandonment Deposit at Cahal Pech, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh.

Walden, John P. (2021) The Dynamics of Political Eclipse: The Shifting Roles and Strategies of Classic Maya Intermediate Elites at Lower Dover, Belize. PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh.

2020

But, Olena. (2020) Investigating Evidence for Child Sacrifice in Lowland Maya Caves. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Gillaspie, Amy M. (2020) Ritual Spaces among the Classic Maya: An Exploration of Peri-abandonment Deposits and the Ceramic Figurine Collection from Baking Pot, Belize. Masters Thesis, Anthropology Program, University of Colorado Denver.

Porter, Mark. (2020) Caching Aggrandizers: Ritual Caching Practices, Competitive Generosity, and the Rise of Inequality in the Preclassic Maya Lowlands. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Steffen, Rachel. (2020) The Built Environment at Plaza H, Cahal Pech: A Study in Resiliency. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, University of Montana.

Tappan, Katie K. (2020) A Zooarchaeological Analysis of the Symbolic Use of Animals by the Ancient Maya in Peri-Abandonment Deposits at Baking Pot, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

2019

Alvarado, Aimee I. (2019) Examining the Relationship between Peri-Abandonment Deposits and the Eastern Shrine of Xunantunich, Group B. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Austin, Tucker (2019) Examining Ancient Maya Resiliency at Xunantunich, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Feely, Cassandra (2019) Game On: Investigations of Ballcourts 1 and 2 at Xunantunich. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Hemsley, Samuel (2019) Down by the Riverside: A Lidar-Based Settlement Survey in the Belize River Valley. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Johnson, Amber (2019) Form and Function of Classic Maya Range Structures: The Case of Structure B7 at Cahal Pech, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, California State University, Los Angeles.

Jordan, Jillian M. (2019) Pottery, Practice, and Place: A Communities of Practice Approach to Commoner Interaction in the Late to Terminal Classic Belize River Valley. PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico.

Romih, Stanislava (2019) Unleashing the Beast: Evaluating Maya Peri-Abandonment Deposits at Lower Dover with the Context of the Belize River Valley. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Stricklin, Dominica V. (2019) Terminal Classic Practices Reflected in Diet and Geolocation of Fauna: The B-4 Peri-Abandonment Deposit at Xunantunich, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Watkins, Tia B. (2019) Public Figures in Private Spaces: Patterns in the Built Environment as a Reflection of Elite Agency. Masters Thesis, Institute of Archaeology, University of College London.

2018

Burns, Jeffrey M. (2018) Preceramic Cave Use in Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Collins, Renee L. (2018) In the Shadow of the Giant: Understanding the Role of Plaza G at Lower Dover, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Davis, Jeffrey Britt (2018) Scattered, Smothered, and Covered: The Cultural Significance of Terminal Classic Deposits at Baking Pot, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Fitzmaurice, Rosamund (2018) Pre-Columbian Maya Graffiti: New Insights from Xunantunich, Belize. Masters Thesis, Institute of Archaeology, University College London, London, UK.

Fox, Steve (2018) Revering the Past: The Analysis of Terminus Groups in the Maya Lowlands. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Johannesen, Kara B. (2018) A Ceramic Analysis of Two Terminal Classic Maya Sites: Examining Economic Ties Through Pottery. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, University of Montana, Missoula.

Slocum, Diane L. (2018) Contextualizing Xunantunich in the Late Classic Upper Belize Valley through Investigations of Structure A9. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

2017

Ebert, Claire E. (2017) Preclassic Maya Social Complexity and the Origins of Inequality at Cahal Pech, Belize. PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University.

Solmo, Keith. (2017) Rain Don't Stop the Reggae Jam: Locating Early Archaic Materials through Paleosol Identification and Predictive Modeling, Belize River Valley, Cayo District, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Sullivan, Kelsey. (2017) Caching it In: Local Patterns in Ancient Maya Ritual Caches of Eccentric Lithics in the Belize Valley. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Zanotto, Hannah H. (2017) Ideological Continuities and Discontinuities in the Maya Lowlands: Terminal Classic Maya Burials at Cahal Pech, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

2016

DeLance, Lisa L. (2016) Enchaining Kinship: Figurines and State Formation at Cahal Pech, Cayo, Belize. PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of California Riverside.

Galvan, Dagmar. (2016) Images from the Dark: Dating the Pictographs and Petroglyphs from Actun Uayazba Kab, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Green, Kirsten A. (2016) The use of stable isotope analysis on burials at Cahal Pech, Belize in order to identify trends in mortuary practices over time and space. PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of Montana, Missoula.

Kollias III, George Van. (2016) Investigating the Maya Polity at Lower Barton Creek, Cayo, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University.

Peniche May, Nancy. (2016) Building Power: Political Dynamics in Cahal Pech, Belize during the Middle Preclassic. PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of California San Diego.

2015

Petrozza, Michael Louis. (2015) Archaeological Investigations of the Lower Dover Periphery, Cayo District, Belize, Central America. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Texas State University.

Novotny, Anna. (2015) Creating Community: Ancient Maya Mortuary Practice at Mid-Level Sites in the Belize River Valley, Belize. PhD Dissertation, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University.

Kulig, Shannon R. (2015) What Were the Elites Doing? Understanding Late Classic Elite Practices at Lower Dover, Belize. BA Honors Thesis, Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh.

2014

du Menil, Leann (2014) An Investigation of Mound-410 at Baking Pot, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Texas State University.

Kay, David K. (2014) Courting the Community: The Politics of Space and the Classic Maya Ballcourts of Western Belize. BA Honors Thesis, Department of Archaeology, Cambridge University.

Villarreal, Alessandra (2014) An Investigation of Preclassic Maya Architecture: The Round Platforms of Cahal Pech, Belize. BA Honors Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Johns Hopkins University.

2013

Santasilia, Catarina E. (2013) Investigations of a Late Classic elite burial at the summit of Structure B1 at the site of Cahal Pech, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Cross-Cultural and Religious Studies, University of Copenhagen.

2012

Hoggarth, Julie A. (2012) Social Reorganization and Household Adaptation in the Aftermath of Collapse at Baking Pot, Belize. PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh.

Martinez-Muniz, Isabelle (2012) Ceramic Innovation and Interregional Interaction: A Study from Formative Cahal Pech, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Cornelle University.

Dupeyron, Agathe (2012) Characterizing Terminal Classic Ritual in the Maya Lowlands: An Assemblage of Figurines and Ocarinas from Cahal Pech, Belize. Masters Thesis, Christ's College, UK.

2011

Freiwald, Carolyn (2011) Maya Migration Networks: Reconstructing Population movement in the Upper Belize River Valley during the Late and Terminal Classic. PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Morehart, Christopher T. (2011) Food, Fire and Fragrance: A Paleoethnobotanical Perspective on Classic Maya Cave Ritual. British Archaeological Reports.

2010

Johnson, L. (2010) Expedient Flaked Stone Tools at a Maya Center: Analysis of a Lithic Collection from Baking Pot, Belize. Honors Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Pacific Lutheran University.

Nash, Lenna M. (2010) Osteology of the Chalillo Dam Archaeology Salvage Project, Upper Macal River Valley, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Mississippi.

Zweig, Christina (2010) The Formative Ceramic Figurine Collection from the Site of Cahal Pech, Cayo, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

2009

Helmke, Christophe (2009) Ancient Maya Cave Usage as Attested in the Glyphic Corpus of the Maya Lowlands and the Caves of the Roaring Creek Valley, Belize. PhD Dissertation, Institute of Anthropology, University of London.

Jobbova, Eva. (2009) House Mounds as Indicators of Social Organization at the Maya Site of Baking Pot. BSc Dissertation, Institute of Archaeology, University of London, London.

2008

Jordan, Jillian M. (2008) Persistence in the Periphery: Archaeological Investigations at Baateelek, Caves Branch River Valley, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, University of Mississippi.

2006

Mirro, Michael J. (2007) The Political Appropriation of Caves in the Upper Belize Valley. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, California State University, Los Angeles.

Audet, Carolyn M. (2006) The Political Organization of the Belize Valley: New Evidence from Baking Pot, Xunantunich, and Cahal Pech. PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, Vanderbilt University.

Moyes, Holley (2006) The Sacred Landscape as a Political Resource: A Case Study of Ancient Maya Cave Use at Chechem Ha Cave, Belize, Central America. PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, State University of New York at Buffalo.

2005

Piehl, Jennier C. (2005) Performing Identity in an Ancient Maya City: The Archaeology of Houses, Health, and Social Differentiation at the Site of Baking Pot, Belize. PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, Vanderbilt University.

2004

Jack, S.M.P. (2004) Ancient Maya Cave Mortuary Practices: A Reinterpretation Using Isotopic Evidence from West-Central Belize and Naj Tunich, Guatemala. BA Dissertation. Oxford University, Oxford.

2003

Sunahara, Kay S. (2003) Ancient Maya Ceramic Economy in the Belize River Valley Region: Petrographic Analyses. PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, McMaster University.

2002

Aimers, James J. (2002) Cultural Change on a Temporal and Spatial Frontier: Ceramics of the Terminal Classic to Postclassic Transition in the Upper Belize River Valley. PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, Tulane University.

Halperin, Christina (2002) Caves, Ritual, and Power: Investigations at Actun Nak Beh, Cayo District, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Florida State University.

Hohmann, Bobbi M. (2002) Preclassic Maya Shell Ornament Production in the Belize Valley, Belize. PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico.

Owen, Vanessa A. (2002) An Investigation of Classic Maya Cave Mortuary Practices at Barton Creek Cave, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.

2001

Moyes, Holley (2001) The Cave as a Cosmogram: The Use of GIS in an Intrasite Spatial Analysis of the Main Chamber of Actun Tunichil Muknal, A Maya Ceremonial Cave in Western Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Florida Atlantic University.

Gray, Nadine L. (2001) Into the Darkness: Investigations of Maya Chultonob from X-Ual-Canil (Cayo), Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Trent University.

2000

Audet, Carolyn M. (2000) Excavations at the Yaxtun Group, Baking Pot, Belize. BA Honors Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Princeton University.

Gibbs, Sheryl A. (2000) An Interpretation of the Significance of Human Remains from the Caves of the Southern Maya Lowlands. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Trent University.

Schwake, Sonja A. (2000) On the Road Excavations Along the Maya Sacbe at X-Ual Canil Cayo District, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Trent University.

1985-1999

Ferguson, Josalyn (1999) The Ballgame at Baking Pot Belize: The Analysis of the Ballcourts at a Maya Civic Center. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Trent University.

Moore, Alan F. (1999) Micro-Settlement Analysis in the Belize River Valley: Archaeological Investigations at Atalaya, a Formal Patio Group at Baking Pot. PhD Dissertation, Institute of Archaeology, University of London.

Iannone, Gyles J. (1996) Problems in the Study of Ancient Maya Settlement and Social Organization: Insights from the Minor Centre of Zubin, Cayo District, Belize. PhD Dissertation, Institute of Archaeology, University of London.

Powis, Terry G. (1996) Excavations of Middle Formative Period Round Structures at the Tolok Group, Cahal Pech, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Trent University.

Awe, Jaime J. (1992) Dawn in the Land between the Rivers: Formative Occupation at Cahal Pech, Belize and its Implications for Preclassic Development in the Maya Lowlands. PhD Dissertation, Institute of Archaeology, University of London.

Cheetham, David (1990) Interregional Interaction, Symbol Emulation, and the Emergence of Socio-Political Inequality in the Central Maya Lowlands. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology and Sociology, University of British Columbia.

Awe, Jaime J. (1985) Archaeological Investigations at Caledonia, Cayo District, Belize. Masters Thesis, Department of Anthropology, Trent University.