MESA REDONDA 1997


The Jungle Canopy Shrouds This Winding Trail Through Plaza Ixim

Archaeology at El Pilar: Research and Conservation Objectives

by Anabel Ford, Ph.D and Melissa Grzybowski

Overall Objectives

  1. To understand the ancient Maya center of El Pilar in its regional context.
  2. To understand the ancient chronology and development of El Pilar.
  3. To understand the role El Pilar played in the Belize River Area.
  4. To intervene with a clear research, conservation and maintenance design.
  5. To interpret the archaeology of El Pilar in a clear and accessible manner.
The archaeology of El Pilar is driven by a general research design aimed at understanding the evolution of complex societies and civilizations. El Pilar is the largest known center in the upper Belize River area and clearly played a major role in local political evolution and regional organization of the ancient Maya civilization. Current presentations of Maya development suggests that centers emerged to organize and integrate growing local populations. Interpretations of the political organization presents a view of growing independent hierarchies focused on a center or cluster of centers that coordinated resources locally and interacted across areas within the region. Regionally formed, yet shifting, alliances evolved over time and across space. El Pilar fits into this economic and political landscape and the research will address these dimensions.


Well preserved bench in a room of the H'mena acropolis attests to the architectectural qualitites at El Pilar

The El Pilar Program conservation facet is designed to ensure the best protection and maintenance of the archaeology. To this end, it is a prime concern that excavations take place with conservation aims stated in the plan. The education agenda will reflect the responsibility of all investigators to ensure that research is presented and published in a clear and accessible manner. It is important that the findings from El Pilar be used to educate the public as well as scholars.
 
 

Short Term Objectives

  1. Determine archaeological conservation style.
  2. Design a training program for teaching techniques of Maya masonry.
  3. Conserve the excavation exposures at Plaza Jobo.
  4. Rescue and gather data from Plaza Lec.
  5. Complete excavation and consolidation of the residence of Tzunu'un
  6. Continue to gather evidence for the forest garden.
  7. Continue the settlement survey of El Pilar.
It is imperative to select a method and style of conservation that will maintain the archaeological integrity of the monumental and residential structures at El Pilar. Excavations will be conducted with research questions in mind. Conservation will proceed on the basis of the local conditions, recognizing that environmental stability is essential for building conservation. Exposures of architecture and the stabilization and consolidation efforts will depend on specific surroundings. Interpretations of ancient architecture will be founded on research and the style will evoke imagination, that is, there will be no reconstruction. Careful exposures will be conserved with the latest techniques, leaving portions unexposed to maintain ambient stability, to provide for a low maintenance regime, and for future discoveries in archaeology and conservation. The style will be one where exploration and discovery is developed, in the view of the 18th century explorers of the Maya world: exposures of beautiful architecture beneath the luxuriant forest canopy. The development of a revisionist style for presentation of monuments, in collaboration with top conservationists in Mesoamerica, will place El Pilar at the avant garde; there will be nothing like it among the destinations of Mundo Maya.

The exposure of three interconnected rooms of Plaza Jobo slated for consolodation

Conservation of monuments at El Pilar is an investment in the future of our world's heritage, consequently, it is important to train local people in strategies that foster their investment in the long-term maintenance of the structures. Further, the design of appropriate conservation techniques must consider research into qualities of construction and state of building conservation. Given these parameters, and weighing environmental conditions, each individual building will be evaluated on its own terms. Examples of architectural exposures, thus, will be varied across the site. This would not only help preserve the integrity of El Pilar, but establish new completely and entirely unique standards for other archaeological projects in the Maya forest region, making El Pilar exemplary in this field.

A Maya House and Forest Garden




Long Term Objectives

  1. Develop a formal training program for local archaeological masons.
  2. Survey and investigate all the archaeological remains at El Pilar.
  3. Seek funding for the visitors center, facilities, and amenities.
  4. Promote publicity to increase the visibility of El Pilar.
  5. Advocate community participation in Belize and Guatemala.
  6. Develop guidelines and standards for research and conservation at the site.
  7. Maintain a catalog of all publications of El Pilar research.
  8. Seek funds for research facilities at the site.
  9. Identify an El Pilar archaeological motif for community arts and crafts.
  10. Establish contiguous park protecting the cultural and natural resources around El Pilar.

Caretaker's house at El Pilar
Community Development and El Pilar
Index