TONIGHT: Patricia McAnany offers two lectures on indigenous heritage and the Maya collapse on Sept. 23-24

Patricia McAnany is Kenan Eminent Professor in the Anthropology Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and adjunct professor of archaeology at Boston University. She will be giving two free public talks at UAA.

McAnany's diverse research efforts include the Xibun Archaeological Research Project in Belize and an NSF-supported effort focused on understanding the political economy of cacao production in Late Classic Maya society. She is the founder of the Maya Area Cultural Heritage Initiative (MACHI), www.machiproject.org, which focuses on educational programs with descendant Maya communities in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. She is the author or co-editor of several books and has written numerous journal articles and book chapters both as sole author and jointly with students and colleagues.

'Questioning Maya Collapse: A Reconsideration of Apocalyptic Narratives'

Thursday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m.
Rasmuson Hall 101

Can the collapse of ancient civilizations be used as lessons for current environmental crises? Were they good stewards of the environment, or did deforestation, erosion and overpopulation result in their demise? McAnany will address this controversy with respect to the mysterious disappearance of the ancient Maya civilization.

'Indigenous Rights and Cultural Heritage in the Maya Region'
Friday, Sept. 24, 3 p.m.
Rasmuson Hall 110

Issues of archaeological cultural heritage are often phrased in globalizing terms: conserving places of the past for the benefit of humanity. Ironically, many heritage sites in Latin America are alienated from indigenous communities -- descendent populations -- at would benefit economically and politically from greater participation in heritage management. McAnany will discuss that frictional intersection of cultural heritage with indigenous rights in reference to the Maya region and the history of nation-building processes within Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.

These talks are sponsored by UAA's Anthropology Club, Anthropology Department, Concert Board and Club Council. They are both free and open to the public and parking is free during the events.

For more information, e-mail thpsar@me.com.