It’s an exciting day at the Museum of Belize. After twelve years, over a hundred and fifty ancient Mayan artifacts have returned to Belize after spending the last twelve years touring across the United States. The artifacts were loaned to the Science Museum of Minnesota as part of a partnership aimed at promoting Belize’s rich Maya heritage internationally. These artifacts are now back in country and ready to be appreciated by Belizeans everywhere. In today’s edition of Belize on Reel, News Five’s Britney Gordon takes a closer look at these artifacts and their value to the National Collection.
In 2012, the world waited with bated breath to see what world-shattering event would unfold when the Mayan calendar came to an end. Many believed that the conclusion of the calendar signaled the end of the world. 2012 came and went and the world kept spinning but public interest in Mayan culture had increased significantly. It is around that time that Belize entered into an agreement with the Science Museum of Minnesota to take about one hundred and fifty pieces of ancient Mayan artifacts found in Belize on a tour around the United States. Now, they’re back. Director of the Museum of Belize, Ilona Smiling, tells us that the team is excited to show them off to the public.
Ilona Smiling, Director, Museum of Belize
“Of course this is just the first phase. The bigger idea is to have most of the items that have returned incorporated into the existing Maya creating civilization exhibit.”
Britney Gordon
“So what type of artifacts are we looking at?”
“So we’re looking at our ceramics or jades, and one of the most beautiful things about the exhibition was a lot of the interactives that we were able to work with the science museum, and we have some of those that will be on display as well. We have two for the viewing that you guys can see. And again, we look forward to incorporating most of these into the exhibits that we have here and some of the welcome centers that we have at the different archeological sites.”
Melissa Badillo, Director, National Institute of Art and History
“It is crossing various time periods from the ancient Maya civilization and different types of artifacts showcasing their artistry with multiple kinds of materials including shells, jade stone artifacts. And of course we have to feature some ceramics in the entire collection. There are both painted and unpainted. I think what we will have on display today is. Some painted pottery.”
Ilona Smiling
“The significance is that we are able to view our history and we are able to do our own research and have that be a part of our own culture, that we get to view and see one of the more beautiful things that we had with the exhibition was the exchange that we were able to do with the science museum. A lot of the conservation work was done in partnership with them. We had staff from the museum and from the Institute of Archeology that was able to work on them. So it’s a very beautiful thing that we are able to have them back home. And we have our own people that can get to view these artifacts.”
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Culture
“We’re trying to do more of that of that. We’re engaging and collaborating. As niche has a long history in the Institute of Archeology in particular has a long history of collaboration with universities primarily in North America. But that’s the whole idea of trying to gain knowledge, experience, support. They helped over the twelve years to preserve some of these artifacts. So that’s a benefit to Belize. But of course we want, as I said, our primary mandate is public education. We want to share these artifacts with the people of Belize, especially our young people. They’ve been out there for a long time, so it’s good to have them back home so that we can put them on display, which we will be doing. In a few weeks time.”
The Museum of Belize welcomes Belize to visit the exhibit and learn more about some of the pieces already integrated into the National Collection. Britney Gordon for News Five.