Diverse Perspectives on the Study of Precolonial Maya Human Remains

Abstract

Ethics pertaining to the study of Maya skeletons are complex and vary widely across Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. The complexity stems in part from the diversity of views held by local and national stakeholders, archaeologists, and the governments that oversee their work. Our position is that the views of local stakeholders should, whenever possible, guide the excavation, analysis, and final disposition of human remains from Maya archaeological sites. This article offers some of our reflections on working with human remains, as outlined in case studies from research at sites in Chiapas, Mexico, and in La Técnica Agropecuaria and Tikal in Guatemala.