RESEARCH

Understanding Kiuic's Resources

The Helen Moyers Biocultural Reserve, managed by Kaxil Kiuic, supports a variety of research programs in the natural and social sciences. There is a core group of Research Associates that provides leadership and expertise to the Reserve in these fields. Dr. William Ringle serves as the Director of Research at the Reserve, Dr. Sarah Armstrong is the Director of Biological Research at the Reserve, and Dr. John Hayden directs the Kiuic Plant Inventory Project.

Below you can access information, research and articles from these various programs.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS

Labna-Kiuic Regional Archaeological Project

Centered at Kiuic, the Labna-Kiuic Regional Archaeological Project (LKRAP) is a long-term archaeological research program studying the adaptation of the ancient Maya from their first appearance in the Preclassic until the contemporary period in the Puuc area of central Yucatan. This area formed one of the major regions of Maya culture during the pre-Columbian period. The project is financially supported by Millsaps College, Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), Davidson College and several private foundations. The project directors are Dr. George J. Bey III (Millsaps College), Arq. Tomas Gallareta Negron (INAH), and Dr. William M. Ringle (Davidson College). The archaeological site of Kiuic, which forms the central study area of LKRAP is a major Maya center that flourished between 600 B.C. and A.D. 1000. Research has focused on three main areas:

1) The mapping of Kiuic with an emphasis on the size and nature of the settlement
2) Excavations within a major Maya palace known today as the Yaxche Group
3) A regional program of survey and excavation focused on the areas immediately surrounding the site of Kiuic, the zone between Kiuic and Labna, and the larger Puuc region.

For more information concerning the Labna-Kiuic Regional Archaeological Project, please click here.

Save the House of Diamonds Project

The Kiuic site has an impressive amount of standing architecture reflecting some of the lesser known styles of the Puuc period. There are several unique and important structures in urgent need of excavation and preservation, including the magnificent Casa de las Diamantes (House of Diamonds) , first illustrated by Stephens and Catherwood in their publication "Incidents of Travel in Yucatan." There is a special funding drive to restore this structure to its former magnificence before the collapse of the final standing architecture.

To see a sketch by Catherwood click here.

San Sebastian Research Project

The Puuc region continued to be inhabited after the so-called collapse, and LKRAP is studying the continued use of the region after the abandonment of the great centers. Within the Helen Moyers Biocultural Reserve is the San Sebastian archaeological site. This community was founded no later than the late 18th century and continued to be occupied until the 1950's. San Sebastian is the focus of an archaeological, ethnohistoric and ethnographic project examining the efforts of the Maya to adapt to the changing worldsystem after the arrival of Europeans. The "Casa Real", where Stephens and Catherwood stayed during their visit to Kiuic in the 19th century is still standing. There is a special project to preserve this important historic monument.

BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROJECTS

The management of biological sustainablity for the Helen Moyers Biocultural Reserve into the indefinite future requires we begin by creating a set of baseline inventories. At present, biological research focuses on generating these types of inventories.

Dr. Sarah Armstrong has begun initiating a field biology program at the reserve designed for undergraduates.

Kaxil Kiuic Plant Inventory Project

The Plant Inventory Project is the most fully developed biological research project at the reserve and its main goal is to document the flora of the reserve. Dr. John Hayden, director of the project, uses undergraduates, graduate students from the Autonomous Univeristy of Yucatan (UADY) and the considerable local expertise of two INAH employees, Mario Magaña Arana and Pedro Gongora Interián to carry out this work. The project is collecting, identifying, and curating plant specimens. It is compiling the data to generate a complete inventory of the plants found on the reserve . The research program is presently sampling the forest during different seasons in an effort to find specimens with diagnostic flowers and fruits, which are, of course, seasonal and often transitory in their appearance. So far, the inventory tally hovers around 250 species. Dr. Hayden is also contributing to the Ethnoflora of Yucatan project, sponsored by UADY, by agreeing to contribute a systematic treatment of Euphorbiaceae for this flora project.

Millsaps College Undergraduate Field Biology Program

This project is co-directed by Dr. Sarah Armstrong and Dr. James McKeown. The purpose of the program is two-fold: to introduce undergraduate students to research methods in field biology, and to begin a baseline biological survey of the property encompassed by the region. At present the primary research goal has been to carry out a baseline survey of the insect diversity at the reserve. To date three orders - Diptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera - have been systematically collected. In addition, an effort has been made to determine the general diversity of the insect population. Another research project has been started: the cataloging (collecting and identification) of flowering plants and pollen found in the area.

Kaxil Kiuic Bird Inventory Project

This project is in its developmental stages. The reserve is recognized by ornithologists and amateur birdwatchers in and outside Yucatan as one of the great remaining dry forest environments for bird populations. A preliminary inventory has been performed by two friends of the reserve, Sr. Miguel Mendez, Sr. David Bacab, and Barbara MacKinnon. They are respected amateur birdwatchers and have offered their expertise in beginning an inventory of bird species found within Kaxil Kiuic. They have presently identified some 120 species.
To support the Kaxil Kiuic Bird Inventory Project click here.

OTHER RESEARCH EFFORTS

In addition to the archaeological and biological initiatives underway within the reserve, there is a geological and a cultural anthropological project in their initial stages. The geological project is being developed by Dr. Stan Galicki of Millsaps College.