Uncovering the Ancient Maya is a student-run podcast dedicated to bridging the gap between Ancient Maya scholars and a broader public audience interested in the Ancient Maya civilization. The hosts interview archaeologists, art historians, ancient writing scholars, and other experts who specialize in studying the ancient Maya civilization of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. Through their conversations, listeners are introduced to recent research projects about the Ancient Maya, providing us all an opportunity to learn the most up-to-date information about the ancient Maya civilization straight from the experts. The podcast is co-created by co-hosts Jackeline Hernandez (Anthropology '22) and Lesli Hernandez Arevalo (Anthropology '22), and producer Annais Garcia (Journalism '22), and represents a collaboration between the Anthropology and Communications Departments at CSUDH. The theme music was created by Shannon Gaebrielle Hefley (Music '23).

Co-Hosts: Jackeline Hernandez, Lesli Hernandez Arevalo
Producer: Annais Garcia
Music: (Copyright) Shannon Gaebrielle Hefley 2022
Advisors: Dr. Kenneth Seligson, Dr. Fernando Severino
Consultant: Rebecca Lee Douglas

Uncovering the Ancient Maya Podcast

Uncovering the Ancient Maya is a student-run podcast dedicated to bridging the gap between Ancient Maya scholars and a broader public audience interested in the Ancient Maya civilization. The hosts interview archaeologists, art historians, ancient writing scholars, and other experts who specialize in studying the ancient Maya civilization of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. Through their conversations, listeners are introduced to recent research projects about the Ancient Maya, providing us all an opportunity to learn the most up-to-date information about the ancient Maya civilization straight from the experts. The podcast is co-created by co-hosts Jackeline Hernandez (Anthropology '22) and Lesli Hernandez Arevalo (Anthropology '22), and producer Annais Garcia (Journalism '22), and represents a collaboration between the Anthropology and Communications Departments at CSUDH. The theme music was created by Shannon Gaebrielle Hefley (Music '23).

Episode 1: Ancient Maya Burnt Lime - Interview with Dr. Kenneth Seligson

In the pilot episode, Jackeline and Lesli sit down with Dr. Kenneth Seligson, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at CSUDH and an archaeologist specializing in human-environment relationships and ancient technology in the Northern Maya Lowlands, to discuss his research on Ancient Maya burnt lime production. The Ancient Maya used burnt lime to build their amazing temple pyramids and palaces, pave their broad plazas with plaster, and process maize into a nutritious staple food. Dr. Seligson and his team recently identified a fuel-efficient pit-kiln technology that Ancient Maya communities developed to conserve their natural forest resources while producing the lime that they needed for so many aspects of daily life. Dr. Seligson's recent article titled “Lime Powder Production in the Maya Puuc Region (A.D. 600–950): An Experimental Pit-Kiln” serves as a jumping off point for the discussion.

Co-Hosts: Jackeline Hernandez, Lesli Hernandez Arevalo
Producer: Annais Garcia
Music: (Copyright) Shannon Gaebrielle Hefley 2022
Advisors: Dr. Kenneth Seligson, Dr. Fernando Severino
Consultant: Rebecca Lee Douglas

S1 Ep1 - Ancient Maya Burnt Lime (w/ Dr. Ken Seligson)

Uncovering the Ancient Maya is a student-run podcast dedicated to bridging the gap between Ancient Maya scholars and a broader public audience interested in the Ancient Maya civilization. The hosts interview archaeologists, art historians, ancient writing scholars, and other experts who specialize in studying the ancient Maya civilization of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. Through their conversations, listeners are introduced to recent research projects about the Ancient Maya, providing us all an opportunity to learn the most up-to-date information about the ancient Maya civilization straight from the experts. The podcast is co-created by co-hosts Jackeline Hernandez (Anthropology '22) and Lesli Hernandez Arevalo (Anthropology '22), and producer Annais Garcia (Journalism '22), and represents a collaboration between the Anthropology and Communications Departments at CSUDH. The theme music was created by Shannon Gaebrielle Hefley (Music '23).


Episode 2: Ancient Maya Hieroglyphs - Interview with Dr. Marc Zender

In episode two, Jackeline and Lesli sit down with Dr. Marc Zender, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Tulane University, an epigrapher (expert in ancient writing) and linguist specializing in the Ancient Maya hieroglyphic script (https://liberalarts.tulane.edu/departments/anthropology/people/marc-zender). Listen in as Dr, Zender talks about the origins of the Maya writing system, how it spread from Guatemala north into the Yucatan Peninsula, and how it ultimately fell out of use following calamitous events 1200 years ago! The conversation also covers language and hieroglyph revitalization efforts in the Maya area and a tomb discovery fit for Lord of the Rings!

Co-Hosts: Jackeline Hernandez, Lesli Hernandez Arevalo
Co-Creator: Annais Garcia
Music: (Copyright) Shannon Gaebrielle Hefley 2022
Advisors: Dr. Kenneth Seligson, Dr. Fernando Severino
Consultant: Rebecca Lee Douglas

S1 Ep2 - Ancient Maya Hieroglyphs (w/ Dr. Marc Zender)

Uncovering the Ancient Maya is a student-run podcast dedicated to bridging the gap between Ancient Maya scholars and a broader public audience interested in the Ancient Maya civilization. The hosts interview archaeologists, art historians, ancient writing scholars, and other experts who specialize in studying the ancient Maya civilization of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. Through their conversations, listeners are introduced to recent research projects about the Ancient Maya, providing us all an opportunity to learn the most up-to-date information about the ancient Maya civilization straight from the experts. The podcast is co-created by co-hosts Jackeline Hernandez (Anthropology '22) and Lesli Hernandez Arevalo (Anthropology '22), and producer Annais Garcia (Journalism '22), and represents a collaboration between the Anthropology and Communications Departments at CSUDH. The theme music was created by Shannon Gaebrielle Hefley (Music '23).

Episode 3: Ancient Maya Foodways - Interview with Dr. Shanti Morell-Hart

In episode three, Jackeline and Lesli sit down with Dr. Shanti Morell-Hart, Associate Professor of Anthropology at McMaster University, an a paleoethnobotanist, and an expert in Ancient Maya foodways (https://socialsciences.mcmaster.ca/people/morell-hart-shanti). Listen in as Dr, Morell-Hart talks about how researchers now have access to a wide range of cutting-edge techniques that allow them to uncover the many types of foods and drinks prepared by the Ancient Maya. The conversation also includes an exploration of the ways that Ancient Maya foodways have influenced modern cuisines and the social impacts of a hallucinogenic beverage made from tree bark!

Co-Hosts: Jackeline Hernandez, Lesli Hernandez Arevalo
Co-Creator: Annais Garcia
Music: (Copyright) Shannon Gaebrielle Hefley 2022
Advisors: Dr. Kenneth Seligson, Dr. Fernando Severino
Consultant: Rebecca Lee Douglas

S1 Ep3 - Ancient Maya Foodways (w/ Dr. Shanti Morell-Hart)

Uncovering the Ancient Maya is a student-run podcast dedicated to bridging the gap between Ancient Maya scholars and a broader public audience interested in the Ancient Maya civilization. The hosts interview archaeologists, art historians, ancient writing scholars, and other experts who specialize in studying the ancient Maya civilization of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. Through their conversations, listeners are introduced to recent research projects about the Ancient Maya, providing us all an opportunity to learn the most up-to-date information about the ancient Maya civilization straight from the experts. The hosts for season 2 are Jhanella Mae Martinez (Art History '24) and Alyssa Guerrero (Anthropology '23). 

The podcast was co-created by Jackeline Hernandez (Anthropology '22) and Lesli Hernandez Arevalo (Anthropology '22), and producer Annais Garcia (Journalism '22), and represents a collaboration between the Anthropology and Communications Departments at CSUDH.  The theme music was created by Shannon Gaebrielle Hefley (Music '23).

Season 2 Episode 1: Ancient Maya Water Management and Climate Change - Interview with Dr. Lisa Lucero

In the first episode of season two, Jhanella Mae and Alyssa sit down with Dr. Lisa Lucero, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, an archaeologist and expert in ancient Maya water management strategies. (https://anthro.illinois.edu/directory/profile/ljlucero). 

Listen in as Dr, Lucero talks about the importance of capturing and storing rainwater for ancient Maya centers like Tikal. Massive self-cleaning reservoirs were important not only to support everyday life and agricultural pursuits, but for the political power of the ancient Maya rulers and nobles, as well. The conversation also includes an exploration of the ways that Ancient Maya water management strategies and responses to climatic changes can provide insights that we can learn from in our struggle to maintain access to clean drinking water in the face of climate change today!

Season 2 Co-hosts: Jhanella Mae Martinez and Alyssa Guerrero
Co-creators: Jackeline Hernandez, Lesli Hernandez Arevalo, Annais Garcia
Music: (Copyright) Shannon Gaebrielle Hefley 2022
Advisor: Dr. Ken Seligson
Consultant: Rebecca Lee Douglas

S2 Ep1 - Ancient Maya Water Management (w/ Dr. Lisa Lucero)

Uncovering the Ancient Maya is a student-run podcast dedicated to bridging the gap between Ancient Maya scholars and a broader public audience interested in the Ancient Maya civilization. The hosts interview archaeologists, art historians, ancient writing scholars, and other experts who specialize in studying the ancient Maya civilization of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. Through their conversations, listeners are introduced to recent research projects about the Ancient Maya, providing us all an opportunity to learn the most up-to-date information about the ancient Maya civilization straight from the experts. The hosts for season 2 are Jhanella Mae Martinez (Art History '24) and Alyssa Guerrero (Anthropology '23).

The podcast was co-created by Jackeline Hernandez (Anthropology '22) and Lesli Hernandez Arevalo (Anthropology '22), and producer Annais Garcia (Journalism '22), and represents a collaboration between the Anthropology and Communications Departments at CSUDH. The theme music was created by Shannon Gaebrielle Hefley (Music '23).

Season 2 Episode 2: Ancient Maya Burial Practices and Skeletal Analyses - Interview with Dr. Carolyn Freiwald.

In the second episode of season two, Mae and Alyssa sit down with Dr. Carolyn Freiwald, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Mississippi, a bioarchaeologist and expert in ancient Maya skeletal and isotope analyses (https://socanth.olemiss.edu/carolyn-freiwald/).

Listen in as Dr, Freiwald, Alyssa, and Mae dispel the idea that ancient Maya culture was all about human sacrifice. Instead, Dr. Freiwald shifts the focus to all that we can learn about living people and daily life from analyzing burial contexts. She also provides an overview of how archaeologists can use bone isotopes to track ancient (and modern) migration patterns. Join us for this "spooky" Halloween Special episode!

Season 2 Co-hosts: Jhanella Mae Martinez and Alyssa Guerrero
Co-creators: Jackeline Hernandez, Lesli Hernandez Arevalo, Annais Garcia
Music: (Copyright) Shannon Gaebrielle Hefley 2022
Advisor: Dr. Ken Seligson
Consultant: Rebecca Lee Douglas

S2 Ep2 - Ancient Maya Skeletal Analyses (w/ Dr. Carolyn Freiwald)

Season 4 Episode 1: Classic Maya Palace Spaces and Feasting - Interview w/ Dr. Maxime Lamoureux-St-Hilaire

In the first episode of Season 4, Reese, Diana, and Jose interview Dr. Maxime Lamoureux-St-Hilaire, Assistant Professor of Anthropology (Archaeology) at Mount Royal University. https://www.mtroyal.ca/ProgramsCourses/FacultiesSchoolsCentres/Arts/Departments/SociologyAnthropology/Faculty/Maxime-Lamoureux-St-Hilaire.htm

Listen in as Dr. Lamoureux-St-Hilaire discusses his investigations within the palace complex of the Classic Maya site of La Corona in northwestern Guatemala. Dr. Lamoureux-St-Hiliaire's team uncovered several storage spaces, hieroglyphic monuments, and a huge midden area with evidence of several feasting episodes. In addition to digging into the implications of all of these finds, the interview also discusses the challenges and excitement of off-the-grid archaeological research deep in the Mesoamerican jungle.

Image Credit: Artistic reconstruction of the Northwest Group featuring the storage contexts and retainers and administrators performing ancillary activities (courtesy of
Aaron Alfano).

Uncovering the Ancient Maya is a student-run podcast dedicated to bridging the gap between Ancient Maya scholars and a broader public audience interested in the Ancient Maya civilization. The hosts interview archaeologists, art historians, ancient writing scholars, and other experts who specialize in studying the ancient Maya civilization of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. Through their conversations, listeners are introduced to recent research projects about the Ancient Maya, providing us all an opportunity to learn the most up-to-date information about the ancient Maya civilization straight from the experts. The hosts for season 4 are Diana Chavez (Anthropology '25), Reese Santonil (Anthropology '24), and Jose Quintero (Anthropology '25).

The podcast was co-created by Jackeline Hernandez (Anthropology '22) and Lesli Hernandez Arevalo (Anthropology '22), and producer Annais Garcia (Journalism '22), and represents a collaboration between the Anthropology and Communications Departments at CSUDH. The theme music was created by Shannon Gaebrielle Hefley (Music '23).

Season 4 Student Co-Hosts: Reese Santonil, Diana Chavez, and Jose Quintero
Co-creators: Jackeline Hernandez and Lesli Hernandez Arevalo
Music: (Copyright) Shannon Gaebrielle Hefley 2022
Advisor: Dr. Ken Seligson
Consultant: Rebecca Lee Douglas

S4 Ep1 - Classic Maya Palace Spaces and Feasting (w/ Dr. Maxime Lamoureux-St-Hilaire)

CSUDHanthropology