New Archaeological Research in the Bolonchen District of the Puuc Región
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Millsaps Puuc Archaeological Research Center (MPARC), Tomás Gallareta Negrón will make a special presentation at the Mérida English Library: “New Archaeological Research in the Bolonchen District of the Puuc Región”.
Dr. Gallareta Negrón’s lecture explores how cutting-edge LiDAR technology is transforming our understanding of ancient Maya civilization, particularly in the Puuc region of Yucatán. By penetrating dense vegetation and revealing hidden architectural features, LiDAR has uncovered previously unknown settlements and reshaped interpretations of Maya urbanism and chronology. This lecture will highlight new evidence of early occupation sites and offer insights into the organization and development of Late and Terminal Classic communities.
Bolochen’s landscape, now digitally mapped with unprecedented precision, reveals a complex network of residential compounds, ceremonial structures, and agricultural modifications that challenge earlier assumptions about the scale and sophistication of Maya life in this zone. Dr. Gallareta Negrón will present recent findings that illuminate how Bolochen fits into broader regional patterns and contributes to a more nuanced understanding of Maya settlement dynamics.
Please join us on Thursday November 20 starting at 11:00 AM to learn more about this fascinating project.
Bob’s MayaWorld Tours will follow up with two immersive group tours: one on December 13, 2025, and another on January 29–30, 2026. Participants will explore Kiuic’s restored and untouched ruins alongside renowned archaeologist Tomás Gallareta Negrón. The January tour includes accommodations at MPARC’s charming casitas in Oxkutzcab and an evening lecture on Maya civilization. Both tours feature regional cuisine and guided visits to Kiuic, as well as MPARC’s laboratory and library, providing a rare behind-the-scenes look at ongoing research and conservation.
Drawing by Steve Radzi
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Tomás Gallareta Negrón is an internationally known archaeologist who has conducted research for Mexico's INAH in the Northern Maya Lowlands for over 35 years. He has worked at such important Maya sites as Cobá, Uxmal, Chichen Itzá and Isla Cerritos. A former Chairman of the Archaeology Section of INAH in Yucatán, and member of the National Council of Archaeology in Mexico, he is currently the Director of the Xocnaceh archaeological project and co-Director of the Bolonchen Region Archaeological Project.
Bob Caskey founded Bob’s MayaWorld in 2019. He has led archaeological and cultural tours throughout the Maya region for over ten years. He is a MEL member he has been a frequent presenter at MEL Talks.
