Class Year

2026

Document Type

Student Research Paper

Date of Creation

Spring 2026

Department 1

Anthropology

Abstract

The site of Chan Chich, Belize, has undergone excavations since 1996, but there has been little attention given to the question of gender. Burial analyses serve as the most fruitful way to comprehend gender inequalities and differences at Chan Chich, and this paper examines every burial excavated at the site since its first field season. The findings show evidence for elite women engaging in craft production and ritual activities, while also receiving immense care and effort in their burial constructions. Although there is limited data to work with, it is clear that some women held essential responsibilities and gained respect within their community. This research adds to the expansive literature about Ancient Maya women at a site where gender archaeology has not been utilized to its full potential, but this work must continue to expand to strengthen our knowledge of the lived experiences of the Maya, particularly at smaller sites where less research has been conducted.

Comments

Written for ANTH 400: Capstone Experience in Anthro.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

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