DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY

Research team

The Aventura Archaeology Project brought together a collaborative, international, multidisciplinary research team of over 170 archaeologists, students, and collaborators from Belize, the US, England, Canada, Netherlands, and China. 

Project Directors:  Dr. Cynthia Robin, Northwestern University (2013-present) 

Dr. Zachary Nissen, Northwestern University (2023-present) 

Dr. Kacey Grauer, Denver University (2023-present) 

Foremen: Mr. Andres Novelo, Belize (2014-2022) 

Mr. Fernando Yam, Belize (2023-present) 

Vice Formen: Mr. Christian Arana, Belize (2017-2019) 

Mr. Fernando Yam, Belize (2022) 

Lab Directors: Ms. Margaret Briggs, Belize (2017-2018) 

Mr. Beresford Awardo, Belize (2019-present)

Specialists

• Ceramicist:
  • Dr. Laura Kosakowsky, University of Arizona
  • Dr. Debra Walker, Florida Museum of Natural History (2019-present) 

• Lithicist: 
  • Dr. Lucas Johnson, Nellis Air Force Base
• Osteologist:
  • Dr. Anna Moles, University of Groningen
• Botanists:
  
  • Natalie Detwiler, MA, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
  • Dr. David Lentz, University of Cincinnati 
• Fauna: 
  • Emily Kinney, MA, Washington State University 
  • Dr. Erin Thornton, Washington State University 
• Historic:
  • Dr. Maxine Oland, University Massachusetts, Amherst
  • Mr. Ramon Aban Sr., Belize 
• Artists
  • Emily Tyler, MA, University of Central Florida 
  • Raynaliz Velazquez Feliciano, BA, University of Central Florida 

PhD students

• Dr. Kacey Graur, PhD Northwestern University 
• Dr. Zachary Nissen, PhD Northwestern University 

PhD candidates

• Yahaira Montejo, Northwestern University 

Ma's

• Emily Kinney, Washington State University 

Survey directors               

• Dr. Kacey Grauer, Denver University 
• Dr. Zachary Nissen, Northwestern University 
• Kat Fitzgerald, KMD Collective 

Excavation directors

• Dr. Kacey Grauer, Denver University 
• Dr. Zachary Nissen, Northwestern University 
• Gabriela Dziki, MA Cambridge University 
• Dr. Hannah Hoover, University of Tennessee Knoxville 
• Dr. Martin Menz, Illinois State Archaeological Survey 
• Erin Niles, Stantec 
• Eponine Wong, MA, Oxford University 
• Maria Cunningham, BA, University College London  

excavation recorders and senior excavators, Belize 

• Mr. Fernando Yam 
• Mr. Alvin Arana 
• Mr. Cayetano Casteneda 
• Mr. Albion Basto 

Undergraduate students

Northwestern University: Sydney Barenholtz, Kaleah Estep, Ola Grabowski, Melissa Jones, Adriana Maldonado, Jennifer Reese, Anna Tolley

Galen University: Abigail Sarmiento, Azarel Sutherland 

Grossmont College: Sage Walsh 

National Institute of Culture and History representatives

Sigourney Allen, Akirah August, Sylvia Batty, Antonio Beardall, Rumari Ku, Andres Novelo, Phylicia Pelayo, Josue Ramos, Linette Sabido, Paul Smith, Selene Solis 

Excavation, survey, and lab assistants, Belize 

Mr. Ian Aban, Mr. Jeider Aban, Mr. Jiovan Aban, Mr. Marco Aban, Mr. Nelson Aban, Mr. Richio Aban, Mr. Adelberto Acosta, Mr. Christian Arana, Mr. Felix Arana, Mr. Francisco Arana Sr., Mr. Francisco Andres Arana, Mr. Frankie Arana, Mr. Hernan Arana, Mr. Adan Audon, Mr. Marco Cab, Mr. Jonny Catzim, Mr. Illan Chi, Mr. Eliseo Clark, Ms. Elizabeth Copo, Mr. Erwin Cowo, Mr. Salvador Cowo, Mr. Jose Coyoc, Mr. Abner Duran, Mr. Mateo Duran, Mr. Joseph Ellis, Mr. Lindon Ellis, Mr. Ricardo Ellis, Mr. Jariel Garcia, Mr. Johan Gomez, Mr. Rigoberto Gomez, Mr. Shamager Gomez, Mr. Yessi Gomez, Mr. Nataniel Hinds, Mr. Valentine Interlano, Mr. Brandon Itzab, Mr. Kareen Jones, Ms. Alyssa Magaña, Mr. Axel Magaña, Mr. Salus Magaña, Mr. Juan Medina, Ms. Yahaira Montejo, Mr. Hiram Neal, Mr. Elaido Pena, Mr. McDonald Perez, Mr. Edilberto Pol, Mr. Gerardo Polanco, Mr. Edson Portillo, Mr. Jose Portillo, Mr. Hermain Rivera, Mr. Clemente Rodriguez, Mr. Edder Rodriguez, Mr. Jorge Rodriguez, Mr. Rodrigo Rodriguez, Mr. Adair Sancar, Ms. Abigail Sarmiento, Mr. Chris Torres, Mr. Edgar Tun, Mr. Gregorio Tzul, Mr. Roberto Tzul, Mr. Amador Uk, Mr. Illan Vasquez, Mr. Jesus Yam, Mr. Rodrigo Yam, Mr. Gilbert Yarwood. 

Community programming collaborators 

• Mr. Florencio Javier Martinez, Chairman, San Joaquin 

• Ms. Adela Pederson Vallejos, President, To’one Masehualoon 

• Ms. Maria Angelita Alvarez Magaña, San Joaquin RC Church summer school 

• Ms. Marieli Puck, Coordinator, San Joaquin Community Library 

• Ms. Betty Novelo, Xaibe 

• Ms. Debra Wilkes Gray, past Coordinator, Corozal House of Culture 

• Ms. Zeidi Vellos, Coordinator, Corozal House of Culture 

Accommodations and food 

• Ms. Rosita Mai, Hotel Maya, Corozal, Belize 

• Ms. Belinda Arana, San Joaquin, Belize 

Project support staff 

Virgin Arana, Yasmine Arana, Sarah Breiter, Andy Chuc, Jorge De Leon, Ashani Novelo, Hermino Novello, Wilfredo Novello, Lyra Rivera, René Rivera, Roberto Rosado Ramirez, Charles Schweik, Julia Shenkman, Josephine Solar, Audomaro Tzul 

Aventura site landowners 

Ms. Adelaida Acosta, Mr. Wilmer Acosta, Mr. Ramon Aban Sr., Mr. Richio Aban, Ms. Cecilia Arana, Mr. Ramiro Arana, Mr. Enrique Cab, Mr. Ismael Cab, Mr. Monico Cobb, Mr. Evan Cowo, Ms. Sarida Cowo, Mr. Rabey Cruz, Mr. Ronny Ellis, Mr. Esbin Jimenez, Mr. Romeo Jimenez, Ms. Gloria Landsworth, Mr. Kim Landsworth, Mr. Chini Loria, Mr. Daniel Magaña, Ms. Maria Angelita Alvarez Magaña, Mr. Ruben Magaña, Mr. Florencio Javier Martinez, Mr. Carlos Pol, Mr. Fidel Pol, Mr. Jose Pol, Ms. Nuelia Pol, Ms. Florideli Portillo, Mr. Jose Portillo, Mr. Jose Sanchez, Mr. Jorge Sima, Mr. Sandro Trejo, Mr. Guillermo Tun, Ms. Aumelia Tzul, Mr. Gilberto Vivas, Mr. Adalberto Witz, Ms. Lilia Witz, Mr. Samuel Witz, Mr. Fernando Yam.