Archaeology, National Identity and the Coup in Honduras: the Role of the Ancient Maya: Archaeological Research Facility Lecture

Lecture | November 3 | 4:10-6 p.m. | 101 2251 College (Archaeological Research Facility)

Speaker: Dario Euraque, Professor of History and International Studies, Trinity College

Sponsors: Archaeological Research Facility, Latin American Studies, Center for, Anthropology, Department of

On June 28th, the duly elected President of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya Rosales, was ousted in a coup denounced around the world. The new regime has not been recognized by virtually any country in the international community. New ministers have been imposed, and virtually all high-level government officials been removed. A little known story concerns the illegal ouster of Honduras´s Director of its Institute of Anthropology and History, the state agency charged with protecting, restoring, researching and promoting the country´s cultural heritage, including its ancient archaeological past. This aspect of Honduras´s national identity is often associated with the tourism drawn to the country´s world famous ancient Mayan city in Copan, near the Honduras-Guatemala border. This talk addresses the eerie question: what role did the Ancient Maya play in the aftermath of the coup in Honduras?

Event Contact: rajoyce@berkeley.edu