Zaculeu, Guatemala: reflexiones y propuestas para un retorno local

Abstract

Zaculeu is a site in the Maya highlands of Guatemala known for an aggressive reconstruction project sponsored by the United Fruit Company in the mid-twentieth century. Although archaeologists recovered a substantial collection of artifacts during their excavations, most of the pieces are stored in repositories in Guatemala City, far from where they were found. A small exhibition room in Zaculeu offers a modest sample of what archaeologists recovered. Taking Zaculeu as a case study, this article offers a brief reflection on importance of the history of national archaeological collections and the return to the place where they were found.