Indiana Jones: Myth, Reality And 21st Century Archaeology

In our series on ancient civilizations we have highlighted the sophisticated methodologies and novel discoveries emerging in the Mesoamerican heartland. Significantly, major discoveries and interpretive perspectives are generated by native-born Mexican archaeologists. However, the infrastructure of Mexican archaeology is slow to adapt to the changing platforms of archaeological research and exploration in the developing world. Additionally, political turmoil, associated with the ongoing drug-wars, has placed a serious damper on the ability of Mexicans to design survey and excavation programs in certain parts of the country. Today’s interview with Dr. Sandra Lopez Varela, previews the more progressive thinking currently emerging in Mexico’s archaeological community. She discusses the potential for CRM to gain a foothold in the country as the Mexican government faces the challenges brought on by the needs to balance heritage preservation with economic development and national security.