Vanderbilt University:

Links

Active Research Projects

Department of Anthropology

Francisco Estrada-Belli

Education:
Ph.D. 1998, Boston University, Archaeology.
B.A. 1991, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Archaeology and Anthropology,

Dissertation Title:
The Evolution of Complex Societies in Southeastern Pacific Coastal Guatemala: A Regional GIS Archaeological Approach.

Current Position:
Assistant Professor Vanderbilt University, Department of Anthropology

I specialize in the early emergence of state society in the Maya Lowlands, settlement patterns studies, GIS & Remote Sensing, and (occasionally) underwater archaeology.

Current research project:
Holmul and its minor centers (Cival, La Sufricaya, K'o, T'ot, Hamontun, Hahakab etc.).
This project investigates the rise and fall of political institutions in the Maya Lowlands. At Cival and Holmul we are focusing on the earliest ritual practices and iconography that mark the beginning of the political institution of the ajaw in the Preclassic and how it transitioned into the Classic period. Another subject of investigation is what political changes occurred at the end of the Preclassic period and what role Teotihuacan played in the Maya Lowlands in the Early Classic period. In this rispect, the evidence from La Sufricaya and Holmul is providing new clues. Finally, we are investigating the relationship of the Late Classic Holmul elite with that of peripheral centers such as K'o and Hamontun and what was the political milieu in NE Peten as Holmul ended its path as a Classic Maya city.

Courses:
Rise of Fall of Civilizations, Ancient Mesoamerican Civilizations, Maya Archaeology
Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing in Archaeology, Old World Arcaheology
Problems in Anthropological Theory: Archaelogical Theory.
Field School in Maya Archaeology (Holmul)
Field School in Underwater Archaeology (Bermuda 2000, 2001)

For more information, please contact me at (615) 322-7525 or francisco.estrada-belli@vanderbilt.edu.