Posts in Cultural Heritage
Building Community, Teaching Archaeology: Interview with Antonio Beardall

What does it mean for young people to excavate pieces of their ancient past? How to make ancient history and archaeology accessible to the general public? Read our interview with Antonio Beardall, PhD student at Texas State University, to see how community archaeology helps young Belizeans reflect on their cultural identity and own their history! 

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World Monuments Fund Watch Day at Lamanai 2023

The World Monuments Watch Day event at Lamanai Archaeological Reserve fostered a deeper appreciation for the site's historical and cultural significance among attendees. It engaged diverse communities and tourists, leaving them with a newfound perspective on Lamanai's role in their living heritage.

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Why Doesn't Anyone Know About Indian Church Village?

Lamanai Archaeological Reserve is one of the largest and most visited Maya archaeological reserves in Belize. Indian Church Village is a small settlement of around 260 people sharing a border with Lamanai. One would think that having such a famous site next door would put Indian Church on the map... This is not the case at all.

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How Street Art Promotes Culture and Heritage in Belize

As a form of public or street art, murals are ‘open museums,’ typically painted on walls, where people can access heritage. This art form can also serve as a place of shared ‘memory’ for the community and provide opportunities for community involvement. Find out more about street art in Belize and why it is crucial to safeguarding culture.

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3 Belizean Culture-Related Films to Watch

Film can be an immersive and powerful tool for documenting and making sense of our culture, and in some cases represents a form of intangible cultural heritage in itself. Here are three Belizean culture and heritage-related films to watch on your next rainy day.

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A Local's Guide to Community Museums in Northern Belize

Community museums are a great place to visit if you want to learn more about local culture. Many of these small spaces are grassroots initiatives that allow the community to explore local histories and to provide educational opportunities for the younger generations. Making it easier to find these amazing places, here is a local's guide to community museums in Northern Belize.

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What is World Heritage Day, and why is it important? 

Every year on the 18th of April since 1982, we celebrate World Heritage Day, but what does it stand for? We celebrate the legacy and rich heritage of humanity given to us by our ancestors and acknowledge the organizations that safeguard it. However, it is about more than just sites and monuments.

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6 Reasons Why Arts & Culture is Crucial for COVID Recovery? 

With cultural spaces closed Belizeans are deprived of spaces and avenues for cultural expression and revenue. We were suddenly left in a vacuum where we could no longer engage in these forms of cultural and creative expressions. However, cultural and creative industries play an essential role in socio-economic recovery. Here are 6 reasons why!

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Uncovering Ancient Technologies: The Mystery and Symbolism of Maya Blue

Learn more about the production and ceremonial significance of the Maya Blue color. Vibrant and resilient, the Maya blue pigment has been considered a source of wonder for scientists and historians alike since its initial discovery in 1931. The paint can retain its vibrant blue color across centuries- a feat that is uncommon for any color, especially those obtained from natural ingredients.

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A Guide to Empowering Women in the Cultural Sector

Women are a crucial part of social and economic development as well as cultural transmission. The most straightforward example would be looking at how mothers influence the transmission and continuation of languages ("mother tongue", we call it) or various traditional artisanal techniques. It is essential to develop sustainable livelihoods and business models that encourage traditional skills and support women. We created a short guide to start.

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MayaBags: A Story of Dedication to Safeguard Maya Culture & Traditional Creative Skills

MayaBags®️ handmade bags carry a profound story about Belizean Maya culture, its inherent creativity and the female Maya artisans who make the textiles that frame the bags. MayaBags is a successful social enterprise that works with Maya women from the Toledo District. This is their story!

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The ‘Big Hat’: Safeguarding heritage off the beaten track at Nim Li Punit

Learn about history and Archaeology at Nim Li Punit, Toledo! Tucked away in the richly diverse foothills of the Maya Mountains, Nim Li Punit is one of the smaller Maya sites open to visitors in southern Belize’s Toledo District. Despite its modest size, Nim Li Punit has been the subject of international attention in recent decades because of its remarkable collection of stelae. Spread across the site, these monumental stone sculptures were used to commemorate the lives of political leaders, historical battles and ceremonial activity during the site’s settlement in the Late Classic period (C.E. 600-900).

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