Heritage and Environment: Archaeology at a United Fruit Company Site, 1909–1939

Archaeological heritage at Quiriguá, a Maya site within a United Fruit Company banana plantation (1909–1939), was shaped by competing environmental narratives. Foreign archaeologists modified the landscape for excavation and tourism, while Guatemalan elites challenged the notion of tropical lowlands as 'wastelands,' advocating for conservation amid banana expansion. This study reveals how archaeological debates intersected with environmental concerns, reshaping perceptions of heritage but also reinforcing exclusionary national narratives. The research draws on historical analysis to highlight tensions between foreign and local interpretations of both ruins and natural landscapes.

Brockmann, S. (2026). Heritage and Environment: Archaeology at a United Fruit Company Site, 1909–1939. Environmental History, 31(1), 64–92. https://doi.org/10.1086/738449