Archaeology Magazine - January/February 2013 - 65

his past November, the AIA Conservation and Site Preservation Committee announced the winners of the 2013 Best Practices in Site Preservation Award: George Bey, Professor of Anthropology at Millsaps College, for his work at Kaxil Kiuic, Mexico, and Cristina Vidal Lorenzo and Gaspar Muñoz Cosme of the University of Valencia and Polytechnic University of Valencia,

Excavating (top) at the Kuche Palace, Kaxil Kiuic. Main pyramid (above) at the Yaxche Palace, Kaxil Kiuic.

strates that archaeology can be used to preserve not only cultural resources but also endangered environments. Bey spearheaded Millsaps College’s eﬀorts to purchase and develop 4,500 acres of land in Guatemala. Bey’s eﬀorts helped transform the land into a bio-cultural reserve. Additionally, Bey developed a method of conservation that focuses on preserving standing architecture while monitoring and mitigating any damage that occurs to the buildings through natural processes. The project’s archaeological conservation goes hand in hand with the monitoring and preservation of the natural environment around the site. To promote the long-term preservation of the site, Bey has implemented a number of educational outreach activities, including site visits and conservation training, for local communities. The La Blanca Project, codirected by Vidal and Muñoz, also takes a holistic approach to site preservation by combining scientiﬁc research and the conservation of cultural heritage with economic development and educational opportunities for local communities. Vidal and Muñoz developed a conservation program that was integrated at all stages of research, ensuring the protection and stabilization of archaeological

Ongoing excavation (top) and conservation work at La Blanca. Workshop (above) for local staff members at La Blanca.

respectively, for their joint work on the La Blanca Project, Guatemala. The award, established in 2011 by the Conservation and Site Preservation Committee, is given to individuals or projects recognized by their peers for doing exemplary work in the ﬁeld of site preservation and conservation. Through the award, the Committee acknowledges these individuals or projects for their work, supports their eﬀorts ﬁnancially, and publicizes their methods and techniques as best practices in the ﬁeld. Bey’s work at Kaxil Kiuic demon-

Local residents visit a photo exhibit celebrating 10 years of partnership between the town and the Kaxil Kiuic project.

structures and resources before, during, and after excavation. In addition to archaeological conservation, Vidal and Muñoz are working to maintain the integrity of the natural landscape surrounding La Blanca by preventing deforestation and conducting research on the paleoenvironment. An interpretive center built as part of the project informs visitors about this important site and the project’s conservation eﬀorts. The project’s outreach programs provide conservation training, educational workshops, and a tour guide training course to help ensure the long-term preservation of this archaeological site. Through their extensive and comprehensive work at Kaxil Kiuic and La Blanca, Bey, Vidal, and Muñoz have shown a level of commitment to site preservation and community engagement that we hope will inspire many others in the ﬁeld. To ﬁnd out more about their work and the AIA Site Preservation Program, visit www.archaeological.org/sitepreservation
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Dispatches from the AIA

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Excavate, Educate, Advocate

AIA Conservation and Site Preservation Committee Announces Winners of Best Practices Award

http://www.archaeological.org/sitepreservation

Archaeology Magazine - January/February 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Archaeology Magazine - January/February 2013