About Dr Davies – General Public

Dr Diane Davies is a Maya archaeologist and Director of Maya Archaeologist Limited.

She completed her PhD in Anthropology, specialising in Central America, in particular, the Maya, at Tulane University, New Orleans.  Dr Davies also has a Masters in Archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology, UCL and a BA Joint Honours in History and Philosophy from Leeds University.

Little is known about the Maya in the UK and so aside from carrying out research in Guatemala and teaching, Diane is an educational consultant for schools giving workshops to both teachers and children on the Maya.  She is also a consultant for television and radio.

Dr Davies has created award-winning resources, lectures to a variety of organisations and is Chair of Chok Education, a UK charity supporting the education of Maya children. 


Page Content


Professional Appointments

  • Director of Maya Archaeologist Limited
  • Educator on the Ancient Maya for the Primary History Curriculum
  • Honorary Research Associate, Institute of Archaeology, UCL (2014-2023)

Education

2015
Level 3 Award in Education and Training – City & Guilds 6502
City Literary College, London

2012
PhD in Archaeology and Anthropology. Tulane University, New Orleans
Thesis: Past Identities, Present Legitimation: The Reuse of a Late Preclassic Residential Group at the Maya site of San Bartolo, Guatemala. Advisor: Dr E. Wyllys Andrews V.

1997
MA in Archaeology. Institute of Archaeology, University College London
Dissertation: Ballgame Trophies, Votive Offerings and Sprouting Serpents: Trophy Heads/Skulls and Ritual Decapitation in the Gulf Coast of Ancient Mexico. Advisor: Professor Warwick Bray

1996
BA Joint Honours in History and Philosophy. Leeds University
Upper Second Class Honours


Publications, Products & Resources

2022
Maya Spirit Companion Bookmarks. Product.

2021
Maya Arts and Crafts Pack. Digital Resource.

2020
KS2 Educational Videos on the Maya: The Maya, Rainforest and Archaeology, Artefacts, Maya Calendar and Maya Maths. Online Resource.

2019
Scheme of Work on the Ancient Maya. Co-authored with Richard Petts, Mark Woolley, Jennifer Farmer, Selina King and Lisa White. Digital Resource

2018
Maya Timeline. Created with Wildgoose Education. Product.

2017
Maya Thinking Cards. Created with Wildgoose Education. Product.

2016
A Journey through the Maya world. Millgate House Education, Sandbach. Book. Winner of 2016 Betts Award for Primary Digital Content.

“How to Spot untrustworthy resources on the Maya.” Maya Archaeologist. https://www.mayaarchaeologist.co.uk/untrustworthy-resources-maya/.

“What if British History was told in the same way as Maya history?” Maya Archaeologist. https://www.mayaarchaeologist.co.uk/mayan-history/.

Wooden Maya Calendar. Created with Louise Belanger. Product.

Make your own Maya Calendar resource packet. Created with Louise Belanger. Product.

2015
Archaeology: Learn, Practice, Excavate. Created with Computeam for London Grid For Learning Resource.

2014
Reuse of the Past – A Case Study from the Ancient Maya. The Historian 121:32-36 [PDF]

Scheme of Work for Primary History, Unit: Ancient Maya. Historical Association. Electronic Document.

The Maya: A 4,000 Year Old Civilisation in the Americas. Co-authored with Genner Llanes-Ortiz and Ian Mursell. Primary History. Issue 68/Autumn 2014, Historical Association [PDF]

2012
Past Identities, Present Legitimation: The Reuse of a Late Preclassic Residential Group at the Maya Site of San Bartolo, Guatemala. Thesis. Department of Anthropology, Tulane University, New Orleans. [PDF]

Signs of Change: A K-12 Curriculum on the Contemporary Maya. Stone Center for Latin American Studies, Tulane University, New Orleans. [Electronic document]

2011
Social Memory and Identity as Reflected in the Reuse of a Residential Group at the Maya Site of San Bartolo. In Identity Crisis: Archaeological Perspectives on Social Identity. Proceedings of the 42nd Annual Chacmool Archaeology Conference, edited by L. Amundsen-Meyer, N. Engel and S. Pickering, pp. 311-320, Calgary, Alberta. [PDF]

2010

Introducing the Ancient Maya to the Classroom: Classroom Activities Packet. Tulane Maya Symposium and Workshop, Tulane University, New Orleans, pp.1-24. [Electronic document]

Investigaciones de un Grupo Residencial en al Sitio Maya San Bartolo. In XXIII Simposio de investigaciones arqueológicas en Guatemala, 2009, edited by J.P. Laporte, B. Arroyo, and H. Mejía, pp. 146-160. Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología, Guatemala [PDF]

2009
SB 21: Continuación de las excavaciones el Grupo 38. In Proyecto Arqueológico San Bartolo: Informe Preliminar No. 8, Octava Temporada 2009, edited by W. Saturno and L. Romero, pp. 13-64. Report to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia de Guatemala, Guatemala. [PDF]

2008
Uso y Reutilización en la Estructura 38 en el sitio Maya de San Bartolo. In Proyecto Arqueológico San Bartolo: Informe Preliminar No. 7, Septima Temporada 2008, edited by W. Saturno and M. Urquizú, pp. 100-161. Report to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia de Guatemala, Guatemala. [PDF]

2005
SB-20: Excavaciones en el Grupo Los Bigotes. In Proyecto Arqueológico San Bartolo: Informe Preliminar No. 4, Cuarta Temporada 2005, edited by M. Urquizú and W. Saturno, pp. 406-413. Report to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia de Guatemala, Guatemala. [PDF]

SB-21 Y 22: Excavaciones en las Estructuras 38, 41 Y 165. In Proyecto Arqueológico San Bartolo: Informe Preliminar No. 4, Cuarta Temporada 2005, edited by W. Saturno and M. Urquizú, pp. 414-429. Report to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia de Guatemala, Guatemala.[PDF]

2003
SB 1A: Excavaciones en el Muro Norte Exterior en la Pirámide de las Pinturas. In Proyecto Arqueológico San Bartolo: Informe Preliminar No. 2, Segunda Temporada 2003, edited by M. Urquizú and W. Saturno, pp. 1-3. Report to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia de Guatemala, Guatemala. [PDF]

SB 1A: Excavaciones en el Cuarto de Los Murales de la Pirámide de las Pinturas. In Proyecto Arqueológico San Bartolo: Informe Preliminar No. 2, Segunda Temporada 2003, edited by M. Urquizú and W. Saturno, pp. 4-8, Report to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia de Guatemala, Guatemala. [PDF]

SB 1A: Excavaciones a lo largo de la Estructura Sub-2 en la Pirámide de las Pinturas. In Proyecto Arqueológico San Bartolo: Informe Preliminar No. 2, Segunda Temporada 2003, edited by M. Urquizú and W. Saturno, pp. 9-11. Report to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia de Guatemala, Guatemala. [PDF]

SB 1C: Excavaciones en el frente de la Pirámide de las Pinturas. In Proyecto Arqueológico San Bartolo: Informe Preliminar No. 2, Segunda Temporada 2003, edited by M. Urquizú and W. Saturno, pp. 12-14. Report to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia de Guatemala, Guatemala. [PDF]


Workshops

Teacher Training: Introducing the Maya to the Classroom

2022


Maya on the Thames, Ninth Annual Workshop on Maya Myths and Glyphs, 12 February, Institute of Archaeology, UCL, London

2017 

Lancashire Professional Development Service, Woodlands Conference Centre, Chorley. 23 March

London Grid for Learning, Camden CLC, London. 17 January

2016

School Improvement Centre, Liverpool. 6 December.

Institute of Education, London. 27 February

Lancashire Professional Development Service, Woodlands Conference Centre, Chorley. 23 February

2015

The William Brown Library and Museum, Liverpool. 8 September

The William Brown Library and Museum, Liverpool. 18 June

Garden Suburb Junior School, London. 20 April

Finton House School, London. 21 March

Daisy Cottage, Weston Turville, Bucks. 26 February

Institute of Archaeology, UCL, London. 8 January

2014

Swarthmore Education Centre, Leeds. 5 December

Institute of Archaeology, UCL, London. 1 November

Daisy Cottage, Weston Turville, Bucks. 29 October

Robertswood School, Chalfont St. Peter, Bucks. 22 October

Institute of Latin American Studies, London. 30 September

Institute of Latin American Studies, London. 29 August

Butlers Court School Beaconsfield, Bucks. 26 August

Institute of Latin American Studies, London. 29 July

2012

Tulane University’s Summer Teacher Institute on the Maya: A Trip to Guatemala

2011

Tulane Maya Symposium and Workshop, Tulane University, New Orleans

2010

Tulane Maya Symposium and Workshop, Tulane University, New Orleans

The International High School of New Orleans, New Orleans

School Visits

See list of schools visited here.


Invited Talks & Conference Papers

2022
The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. North East Cheshire Arts Society. 9 November.

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Mid-Wales and Borders Arts Society. 24 November.

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Wrekin Arts Society. 16 May

Maya Study Day. Northleach Arts Society. 3 March.

2021
The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Camberley Arts Society. 24 November.

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Huddersfield Arts Society. 21 October.

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Runnymede Arts Society. 20 October.

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Ascot Arts Society. 5 October.

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Tonbridge Arts Society. 23 September.

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Cambridge Arts Society. 13 September.

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Zoom. Rickmansworth Arts Society. 8 June

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Zoom. Weybridge Arts Society. 12 May

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Zoom. Norwich Arts Society. 20 April

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Zoom. Surrey Hills Arts Society. 23 March

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Zoom. Ashford Arts Society. 16 March

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Zoom. Chester Arts Society. 16 February

2020
Study Day on the Ancient Maya. Tunbridge Arts Society. 20 February

Study day on the Ancient Maya. Egerton Arts Society. 18 February

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy.  Hillingdon Arts Society. 12 February

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy.  Mid Essex Arts Society. 11 February

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy.  Stafford Arts Society. 15 January

2019
The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy.  Lunesdale Arts Society. 9 November

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy.  High Weald Arts Society. 24 September

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy.  Malling Arts Society. 12 September

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy.  Reigate Arts Society. 27 June

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy.  Croydon Arts Society. 9 May

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy.  Norfolk Arts Society. 19 March

Study Day on the Ancient Maya. Alresford Arts Society. 13 March

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy.  Cranleigh Arts Society. 27 February

The Splendour of Colours: Painted Vessels of the Maya. Surrey Heath Arts Society. 15 February

2018
The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy.  Arts Society Annual Chairmen Meeting, London. 21 November

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Egerton Arts Society. 14 November

Painted Vessels of the Maya. U3A Archaeology Group, Wendover. 13 November

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Sheffield Arts Society. 17 October

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Cambridge Arts Society. 11 October

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. North Devon Arts Society. 9 October

The Magnificent Maya: Fact and Fantasy. Birmingham Arts Society. 12 September

The Splendour of Colours: Painted Vessels of the Maya. Havering Arts Society. 12th June

The Magnificent Maya – Fact and Fantasy. North West Norfolk Arts Society. 11th June

The Magnificent Maya – Fact and Fantasy. Deben Arts Society. 21st May

The Magnificent Maya. Guatemalan Families Association. Annual event. 14th April

The Lords of Creation: Kingship in Maya Art. Grayshott Arts Society. 14th March

The Magnificent Maya – Fact and Fantasy. South West London Arts Society. 11th March

The Magnificent Maya – Fact and Fantasy. Haslemere Arts Society. 20th February

The Splendour of Colours: Painted Vessels of the Maya. Surrey Arts Society. 15th February

The Splendour of Colours: Painted Vessels of the Maya. P&O Cruise – Arcadia J801-01. 4th February

Survivor! Digging in the Maya Rainforest. P&O Cruise – Arcadia J801-01. 2nd February

Discovery and Decipherment of Ancient Maya Hieroglyphs. P&O Cruise – Arcadia J801-01. 31st January

The Magnificent Maya – Fact and Fantasy. P&O Cruise – Arcadia J801-01. 29th January

2017
Ancient Maya Kingship. U3A Archaeology Group, Wendover. 13th June

The Ancient Maya. Day workshop. Tomorrow’s Achievers Educational Trust, London, 12 March

The Ancient Maya and Life in the Rainforest of Guatemala. Probus Club, Beaconsfield. 11th January

2016
Misunderstandings of the Ancient Maya as revealed by the Murals of San Bartolo, Guatemala. Lincolnshire Historical Association, Sleaford. 3rd November

Men as Gods: Ancient Maya Kingship. Berkshire Archaeological Society. Reading. 15th October

The Maya Civilisation and Caracol Charity. The Caracol Project fundraising event, Amersham. 15th September

The Discovery and Decipherment of Maya Writing, U3A Archaeology Group, Wendover. 12th July

Introducing the Ancient Maya to the Classroom, Historical Association Annual Conference, Harrogate. 20th May

Misunderstandings of the Ancient Maya as revealed by the Murals of San Bartolo, Guatemala. Buckinghamshire Historical Association, Aylesbury. 17 February

2015
Engaging Minds Lecture. Verulam Secondary School, St. Albans. 6 October

Introducing the Ancient Maya to the Classroom. Maya-on-the-Thames Fourth Annual Workshop on Maya Myths and Glyphs. Institute of Archaeology, London. 12 September

The Magnificent, but Misunderstood Achievements of the Ancient Maya. Chess Valley U3A History Group, Chesham. 13th June.

My Life as a Maya Archaeologist. Wendover U3A Archaeology Group, Wendover. 12 May

2014
Myths about the Maya. Maya on the Thames, Third Annual Workshop on Maya Myths and Glyphs, 19-21 September, Institute of Archaeology, UCL, London

Past Identities, Present Legitimation: the Reuse of a Late Preclassic Residential Group at the Maya Site of San Bartolo, Guatemala. Institute of Archaeology, University College London. 30 May

Making the Invisible Visible: The Use of Chemical Analysis in Revealing Past Activities at the Maya site of San Bartolo, Guatemala. Paper to be presented at the Day on the Maya Conference. 29 November, Institute of Archaeology, UCL, London.

2011
The Invented Past: The Creation and Re-creation of Social Identity. Paper presented at the 110th Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, 16th-20th November, Montreal, Canada.

2010
Life and Death at the Archaeological Site of San Bartolo. Co-authored with Shintaro Suzuki. Paper presented at the 109th Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, November, New Orleans.

Los Entierros Humanos del Sitio Arqueologico de San Bartolo, Peten, Guatemala. Co-authored with Shintaro Suzuki. Paper presented at Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, October, Merida, Mexico.

The Value of Chemical Analysis in Understanding the Function and thus Activities carried out in Ancient Structures: Results from the Maya site of San Bartolo, Guatemala. Paper presented at the 75th Meeting of the Society of American Archaeology, April, St. Louis.

2009
Social Memory and Identity as reflected in the Reuse of a Residential Group at the Maya Site of San Bartolo. Paper presented at the 42nd Annual Chacmool Conference, University of Calgary, November, Calgary, Canada.

Investigando un grupo residencial en el sitio Maya de San Bartolo: Uso y Reutilizacion. Paper presented at the XXIII Simposio de Investigaciones Arqueologicas en Guatemala, July, Guatemala City. Guatemala.

Reuse of a Late Preclassic Residential Group at the Maya site of San Bartolo. Paper presented at the Society for American Archaeology 74th Annual Meeting, April, Atlanta.

2008
What is Old is New Again: Patterns of Reuse in San Bartolo’s Late Classic Reoccupation. Co-authored with Astrid Runggaldier, Jessica Craig, Monica Pellecer and Roxzanda Ortiz. Paper presented at the Society for American Archaeology 73rd Annual Meeting, April, Vancouver, Canada.


Teaching Experience

University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Lampeter

What Makes Civilisation? (Autumn 2017)
Ancient Civilisations: Comparative Analysis and Critical Perspectives (Autumn 2017)

Department of Classics, City Literary College, London

The Maya Civilisation (Spring 2017)
Frauds, Myths and Mysteries of Archaeology (Summer 2017)
Prehistory of Religion (Summer 2016, 2017)
Mesoamerican Societies: The Olmecs, Maya, Aztecs and more (Autumn 2015)
Art and Architecture of the Ancient Maya and Aztecs (Summer 2015)
Introduction to Maya and Aztec Archaeology (Summer and Autumn 2014)
Introduction to South American Archaeology (Spring 2015, Spring 2017)

Department of Humanities and Social Studies, City Literary College, London

Practical Archaeology (Autumn 2015)
Who owns the Past? (Autumn 2015)
Architectural Feats of the Ancient World (Summer 2015)
Discovering and Deciphering Ancient Writings (Summer 2015, 2016, 2017)
Introduction to Archaeology (Autumn 2014)
Magic, Witchcraft and Religion (Summer 2014 and 2015)
World Prehistory (Summer 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2017)

Workers’ Educational Association – Reading

Discovering and Deciphering Ancient Writings (Autumn 2018)
The Archaeology of Death and Burial (Spring 2018)
Maya Civilisation (Autumn 2017)
Introduction to South American Archaeology (Autumn 2017)
Magic, Witchcraft and Religion (Spring 2017)
Ancient Civilisations (Autumn 2016)
Introduction to the Maya and Aztecs (Spring 2016)
Introduction to Archaeology (Autumn 2015)

Freelance – Weston Turville, Buckinghamshire
Introduction to South American Archaeology (Autumn 2014)

Department of Anthropology, Tulane University

Archaeology courses

Introduction to Archaeology (Spring 2012, Autumn 2011)
World Prehistory (Summer 2011, Autumn 2007)

Social Anthropology courses

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (Spring 2012, Spring 2011-2 sections, Summer 2010, Autumn 2007)
Magic, Witchcraft and Religion (Autumn 2011, Summer 2011)

Latin American Studies courses

Introduction to Latin American Studies (Spring 2012)



Research Experience

2005-2009
Archaeologist: The San Bartolo Archaeological Project, Guatemala.
Project involving survey, excavations in a residential group and laboratory analysis.

2007-2009
Assistant Coordinator: Annual Tulane Maya Symposium and Workshop

2005-2006
Research Assistantship: Center for Archaeology, Tulane University
Supervision of the cataloguing and sorting of prehistoric and historic collections from the Southeast US.

2005
Field Supervisor: The San Bartolo Archaeological Project, Guatemala.
Survey and excavation of residential structures and artefact analysis. Director: Dr William Saturno, University of Boston.

2004
Assistant Field School Supervisor: Proyecto Arqueologico Norte Chico Survey, Peru. Locating and recording prehistoric sites. Director: Dr Kit Nelson, Tulane University.

2003-2004
Research Assistantship: Middle American Research Institute (MARI), Tulane University. Editing the MARI Guatemalan textile collection for web publication.

2003
Field Supervisor: The San Bartolo Archaeological Project, Guatemala.
Excavation of the mural room in the Pyramide de las Pinturas (see report)
Director: Dr William Saturno, University of Boston.

2002
Research Assistant – Middle American Research Institute (MARI), Tulane University. Bibliographical editing for Copan: The History of an Ancient Maya Kingdom edited by Dr E. Wyllys Andrews V and Dr William L. Fash.

2000
Assistant Field School Supervisor: San Bartolome-Wiskachani, Juliaca, Peru. University of Santa Barbara, California. Trained volunteers in archaeological field methods. Director: Dr Cynthia Herhahn, University of New Mexico.

1997
Field Assistant: Utuado-Caguana, Puerto Rico, Institute of Archaeology, UCL, London. Excavations at a Late Prehistoric Taino ballcourt and cave site. Director: Dr Jose Oliver.

1995-1996
Teaching Assistant (voluntary): Department of Philosophy, University of Leeds. Introduction to Philosophy seminar.

1995
Field Assistant: Castell Henllys, South Wales. Field school at a Romano-British residential site.


Service to Profession

2018
Organizer and Tour Leader to Guatemala: The Maya Past and Present-CPD

2017
Organizer and Tour Leader to Guatemala: The Maya Past and Present-CPD

Consultant for the Maya Exhibit at Stratford-Upon-Avon Butterfly Farm.

2016
Organizer and Tour Leader to Guatemala: The Maya Past and Present-CPD

2014
Organizer and Chair: Day on the Maya Conference, 29 November, Institute of Archaeology, UCL, London.

Maya Consultant for the Historical Association


Awards, Fellowships and Grants

2016
Betts Award (British Educational Training and Technology) for Journey through the Maya World. Millgate House Education, Sandbach.

2009-2011
The Provost’s Office, Tulane University’s Graduate School Student Association (GSSA), and Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA) grants to attend conferences (total $ 2,600).

2010
Anthropology Write-up Grant. Tulane University ($ 9,206).

2010
School of Liberal Arts Dean’s Office Summer Merit Fellowship Award for archaeological analyses and write-up. Tulane University ($ 4,700).

2009
Junior Visiting Scholar Residency at Casa Herrera. The University of Texas at Austin. Declined.

2008
National Science Foundation (NSF) Dissertation Improvement Grant
Grant No. 0853329 ($ 15,000).

2008
Anthropology Graduate Student Fund. Tulane University. Research award. ($ 600).

2003-2008
Middle American Research Institute (MARI) Field Grant. Tulane University (total $ 11,025).

2002-2005
Graduate School Fellowship. Tulane University ($ 10,000-13,000 per year).

2002-2005
Graduate School Tuition Scholarship. Tulane University ($ 25,000-30,000 per year).

2002-2005
Research Assistantship, Department of Anthropology, Tulane University ($ 3600).

2000
School of Education, King’s College London Honorarium (£ 1250).


Research Interests

Mesoamerican anthropology, development of sociopolitical complexity, rise and fall of civilizations, tropical environments, household anthropology, archaeometry, social memory and identity, the archaeology of religion and mortuary analysis, ethics, education, curriculum development and outreach.


Languages

Spanish: Superior proficiency (speaking, writing, reading) GCSE – Grade A*, 2002
French: Basic (writing, reading, speaking)
Portuguese: Basic (speaking, reading)
Ancient Yucatec Maya: Basic (writing, reading)
Ancient Maya hieroglyphs: Basic (writing, reading)

 

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