Exploring Mayan History in Guatemala

Anthropology major Lauren Spencer spent the summer of 2026 in the jungles of Guatemala on an Independent Study as a student researcher for the Waka' Archaeological Project (PAW). 

Directed by Dr. Damien Marken, associate professor of anthropology, Spencer worked with Emily Bertin, CU-Bloomsburg class of ’25, and other PAW archaeologists to analyze archaeological ceramics recovered from the ancestral Maya city of El Peru-Waka' (ca. AD 150-1000). Recovered from residential contexts, analysis of these ceramics furthers the reconstruction of urban occupation history and dynamics, as well as documenting variations in household status and inequality across the ancient city. 

As part of her time in Guatemala, Spencer took weekend trips to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Tikal, which is also recognizable as Yavin IV from Star Wars, and the colonial town of Antigua in the Guatemalan highlands. Along with the rest of the PAW team, she also attended the annual Symposium for Guatemalan Archaeology at Guatemala's newly renovated national museum (see picture). Her research experience was supported by a Professional Experience Grant (PEG). 

Over the years, nearly fifty Bloomsburg students have participated in PAW as student researchers. Interested students from any Commonwealth campus should contact Dr. Marken for details at dmarken@commonwealthu.edu.