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

博士后研究奖学金：探索古代前古典社会城市化的最初兴起

• 批准号: 1409754
• 负责人: Joel Palka
• 金额: $ 22.62万
• 依托单位: University of Illinois at Chicago
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-07-01 至 2016-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1409754&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Postdoctoral; Research; Fellowship; Exploring; Initial

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.

SBE博士后研究员Santiago Juarez的考古研究（在PI Palka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，在前古典时期（公元前2500年-公元200年），一个古代社区成员的行为和活动是如何影响早期城市社会的建设的。在每个野外季节，Juarez和其他项目成员在社区聚会期间通过会议风格的论文（包括插图、数字和重建）展示他们的最新发现。此外，该项目在调查、挖掘和实验室阶段整合了伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校的学生。扩大不同群体在科学队伍中的参与是该项目的既定目标之一；因此，本研究为培养学生在考古方法方面的相关经验提供了机会，并为本科生提供了论文的数据。PI（帕尔卡）和Fellow（华雷斯）都表现出对提高少数民族学生参与科学研究的坚定承诺。在这个项目中，学生们不仅接受考古研究方法的实践训练，特别是在高需求的制图和地理信息系统技术等技能方面，而且还可以开发自己的研究项目。通过关注社会组织模式，本研究探索了在大规模增长和变化期间维持这个古老社区的关系和相互作用。该项目旨在重建各个阶层的人如何参与城市形成过程；这项工作的结果可以通过关注社区所有居民的社会和经济实践，为国家形成和文明兴起的研究增添新的深度。军事力量、皇室婚姻联盟和外交通常被视为前古典玛雅城市化发展的关键催化剂；尽管这些过程在古代社会的扩张中确实很重要，但华雷斯认为，普通人的行为在贸易网络和经济的增长和扩张中也发挥了同样重要的作用。总的来说，这个项目提供了对美洲最早的城市社会之一的全面了解。最终，这些知识不仅推动了考古领域的发展，而且有助于理解、保护和弘扬我们丰富多样的文化遗产。