Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Exploring the Initial Rise of Urbanization in an Ancient Preclassic Society

SBE博士后研究员圣地亚哥·华雷斯的考古研究(在皮帕尔卡的指导下)与复杂社会的分析有关。这个项目调查了在墨西哥恰帕斯最近发现的玛雅遗址的前古典时期(公元前2500年-公元200年)，一个古代社区成员的行为和活动如何影响了早期城市社会的建设。在每个实地考察季节，华雷斯和其他项目成员在社区聚会期间通过会议风格的文件(包括插图、插图和重建)展示他们的最新发现。此外，该项目在调查、挖掘和实验室阶段吸收了伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校的学生。扩大科学工作者中不同群体的参与是该项目的既定目标之一；因此，这项研究提供了一个机会，培训学生学习考古方法，以积累相关经验，并为本科生的论文提供数据。派(帕尔卡)和菲尔(华雷斯)都表现出了增加少数族裔学生参与科学研究的坚定承诺。在这个项目中，学生不仅接受考古研究方法的实践培训，特别是高需求的测绘和地理信息系统技术等技能方面的培训，还将开发自己的研究项目。通过对社会组织模式的关注，这项研究探索了在巨大的增长和变化时期维持这个古老社区的关系和互动。该项目预计将重建城市形成过程中各个阶层的人是如何参与的；这项工作的成果可以通过关注社区所有居民的社会和经济实践，为国家形成和文明崛起的研究增添新的深度。军事力量、皇室婚姻联盟和外交经常被视为前古典玛雅都市化发展的关键催化剂；虽然这些过程在古代社区的扩张中确实很重要，但华雷斯认为，普通人的行动在贸易网络和经济的增长和扩张中发挥了同样重要的作用。总体而言，这个项目提供了对美洲最早的城市社会之一的全面了解。归根结底，这些知识不仅促进了考古学领域的发展，而且有助于理解、保护和庆祝我们丰富多样的文化遗产。

SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellow Santiago Juarez's archaeological research (under the mentorship of PI Palka) is relevant to the analyses of complex societies. This project investigates how the actions and activities of members of an ancient community influenced the construction of an early urban society during the Preclassic (2500 B.C.-A.D. 200) period at a recently discovered Maya site in Chiapas, Mexico. During each field season, Juarez and other project members present their latest findings through conference style papers (which include illustrations, figures, and reconstructions) during community gatherings. Additionally, this project integrates students from the University of Illinois at Chicago during the survey, excavation and laboratory phases. Broadening participation of a diverse group of people in the scientific workforce is one the stated goals of this project; as such, the research provides an opportunity to train students in archaeological methods to develop relevant experience and provides undergraduates with data for theses. Both the PI (Palka) and Fellow (Juarez) have demonstrated a strong commitment to increasing the participation of minority students in scientific research. In this project, students not only receive hands-on training in archaeological research methods, especially in skills such as mapping and GIS technology that are in high demand, but also in developing their own research projects. By focusing on models of social organization, this research explores the relationships and interactions that sustained this ancient community during a period of massive growth and change. This project is expected to reconstruct how people of all levels were involved in the urban formation processes; results of this work could add new depth to the study of state-formation and the rise of civilization by focusing on the social and economic practices of all residents of a community. Military force, royal marriage alliances, and diplomacy are often seen as key catalysts in the development of Preclassic Maya urbanization; although such processes were indeed important in the expansion of ancient communities, Juarez proposes that the actions of common people played an equally important role in the growth and expansion of trade networks and economies. Overall, this project provides a holistic understanding of one of the earliest urban societies in the Americas. Ultimately, such knowledge not only advances the field of archaeology but also contributes to understanding, protecting, and celebrating our rich and diverse cultural heritage.