Middle American Research Institute

SAVE THE DATE!

The Middle American Research Institute is excited to announce that after a two-year hiatus, the Tulane Maya Symposium will be held March 16-19, 2023 in New Orleans! The topic will be Inequality Among the Maya.

Stay tuned for additional annoucements soon.

The Middle American Research Institute is excited to announce that our new intern-designed photo exhibit is now available online!

M.A.R.I. interns have the opportunity to work with and research the Institute’s archival and artifact collections. The culmination of their hard work is an online exhibit available through Tulane’s library website. These exhibits cover a wide range of topics showcasing the people and material culture of Mesoamerica.

Now you can view the exhibit, The Decipherment of Mesoamerican Writing, from the comfort of your home.

Our collection of online exhibits and some of our past brick-and-mortar exhibits are also available.

Brown Bag Events invite guest speakers to host seminars at MARI on a wide variety of topics related to the archaeology, history, and ethnography of Mesoamerica and other world areas. Brown bag events typically take place on Fridays around noon and can be delivered in English and Spanish. Light lunch is provided.

Middle American Research Institute Interns are integral in helping M.A.R.I. achieve its mission of promoting research into the cultures of Mexico and Central America and stewarding their rich cultural heritage. Interns assist with the day-to-day maintenance of the institute’s various collections and our efforts to update databases and educational resources.  M.A.R.I. staff provide training for students in basic artifact and document handling procedures, database management, and other programs for creating educational content. They also provide logistical support and guidance as interns develop their own projects to contribute to the institute’s educational and outreach goals.

The M.A.R.I. Internship Program is open to Tulane sophomores, juniors, and seniors and fulfills the 2nd tier of the public service graduation requirement, with separate application to CPS. Applications for Spring 2023 will open in November.

Three members of Tulane's anthropology department—Marcello Canuto, Professor and M.A.R.I. Director, Luke Auld-Thomas, PhD candidate, and Francisco Estrada-Belli, Research Assistant Professor—discuss the recent expansion of their Geographic Information Systems Technology Lab (GISLAB), which has become a hub for worldwide collaboration in anthropological technology advancement.

Publication 73, Archaeological Reconnaissance in Eastern Campeche, Mexico: Chactun, Tamchen, and Lagunita

Editor: Ivan Šprajc

This edited volume summarizes recent research and archaeological investigations at the Maya sites of Chactun, Tamchen, and Lagunita, Campeche, Mexico, located in an area previously little-known to researchers. Situated between the Chenes architectural region to the north, and the Río Bec region to the south, this intermediate zone shares many features of the surrounding areas, but there is also evidence that suggests affinities with more distant regions. Data from aerial photographs and lidar mapping reveal a densely occupied and highly modified landscape. The volume includes site descriptions, a discussion of the zoomorphic façade at Lagunita, an analysis of the sites’ ceramics, documentation of stelae and altars, and examination of a possible ceremonial offering. The book features extensive photos and illustrations, including 28 beautiful color plates.