Personal information

Websites & social links

research web site on Paynes Creek Salt Works, Belize
LSU Faculty web page for Heather McKillop

Keywords

ancient Maya, salt, coastal trade, waterlogged wood, underwater archaeology, wooden buildings, ancient Maya canoe paddle

Countries

Belize

Biography

I carry out archaeological field research on ancient Maya salt works flooded by sea-level rise and use 3D technology to preserve a record of the salt-waterlogged pottery and wood. The research has been funded by National Science Foundation grants since 2005. My current NSF is a collaborative, linked grant with LSU PhD grad E. Cory Sills, now an Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Tyler, “Labor Relations in a Traditional Complex Society.” I started the DIVA Lab (Digital Imaging and Visualization in Archaeology) in 2010 with a LA Board of Regents grant. I have expanded 3D imaging and 3D printing, including exhibits featuring 3D printed replicas of artifacts from the Underwater Maya project funded by a Site Preservation Grant from the Archaeological Institute of America. We hosted the 4th International Congress on the Anthropology of Salt at LSU October 12-17, 2022.

Activities

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Employment (4)

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, LA, US

2015-08-15 to present | Thomas & Lillian Landrum Alumni Professor (Geography and Anthropology)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

2006 to present | Professor (Geography and Anthropology)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

1996-08 to 2006-06 | Associate Professor (Geography and Anthropology)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

1990-09-04 to 1996-08 | Assistant Professor (Geography and Anthropology)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Education and qualifications (3)

University of California Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara, CA, US

PhD (Anthropology)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Trent University: Peterborough, Ontario, CA

1980 | M.A. (Anthropology)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Trent University: Peterborough, Ontario, CA

1977 | Honors B.Sc. (Anthropology)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Professional activities (24)

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

member, executive committee (MA in Hispanic Studies, Foreign Languages & Literature)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Society for American Archaeology: Washington, US

2023-04 to present | Chair, Ethics Committee
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

2023 to present | member, Graduate Committee (Geography and Anthropology)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

2022 to present | member (Graduate Council)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

2020 to present | member, Council on Research (Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED))
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Archaeological Institute of America: New York, New York, US

2019 to present | Chair, Research Grants
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

2015 to present | member, Strategic Excellence Fund committee (College of Humanities & Social Sciences)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Texas Tech University: Lubbock, Texas, US

2014 to present | external reviewer for MA Program in Anthropology
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

2014 to present | Chair, Research and Scholarship Committee (Geography and Anthropology)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Archaeological Survey and Antiquities Commission: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, US

1996 to present | Chair
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, LA, US

2020-04-23 | Research Master
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

2019-04 | Teaching Award (Honors College)
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

2015-04 | Alumni Association Faculty Excellence Award (Academic Affairs)
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

2015-04 | Thomas & Lillian Landrum Alumni Professor (Academic Affairs)
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

2013-04 | Tiger Athletic Foundation Undergraduate Teaching Award
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Colorado State University: Fort Collins, US

2011 to 2012 | external program reviewer (Anthropology)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

2009 | Doris Z. Stone Professor of Latin American Studies
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

2008 | LSU Rainmaker
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

2008 | LSU Distinguished Faculty Award
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

2005 | video tribute, half-time, LSU Football Home Game #1
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

2002 | William G. Haag Professor of Archaeology
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, US

1998-01 to 1998-06 | Graduate Director (Geography and Anthropology)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Society of Professional Archaeologists: Washington DC, US

1995-05 to 1997-05 | Treasurer
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Society of Professional Archeologists: Washington DC, US

1993-04 to 1995-05 | Assistant Secretary-Treasurer (Certification Chair),
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Funding (5)

Labor Organization in a Traditional Complex Society

2018-08 to 2021-07 | Grant
National Science Foundation (VA, VA, US)
URL: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1826653
GRANT_NUMBER: 1826653
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant: Identifying activity areas at ancient Maya salt works, Belize

2011-09-01 to 2013-08-31 | Grant
Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences (n/a, US)
URL: https://grants.uberresearch.com/100000088/1139178/Doctoral-Dissertation-Improvement-Grant-Identifying-activity-areas-at-ancient-Maya-salt-works-Belize
GRANT_NUMBER: grant.1139178
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop via DimensionsWizard

Collaborative Research: Ancient Maya Wooden Architecture and the Salt Industry

2010-08-15 to 2013-07-31 | Grant
Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences (n/a, US)
URL: https://grants.uberresearch.com/100000088/1026796/Collaborative-Research-Ancient-Maya-Wooden-Architecture-and-the-Salt-Industry
GRANT_NUMBER: grant.1026796
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop via DimensionsWizard

Mapping Ancient Maya Wooden Architecture On the Seafloor

2005-06-01 to 2009-10-31 | Grant
Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences (n/a, US)
URL: https://grants.uberresearch.com/100000088/0513398/Mapping-Ancient-Maya-Wooden-Architecture-On-the-Seafloor
GRANT_NUMBER: grant.0513398
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop via DimensionsWizard

Dissertation: Water Resource Management by the Ancient Maya of Yucatan, Mexico

2000-11-01 to 2002-04-30 | Grant
Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences (n/a, US)
URL: https://grants.uberresearch.com/100000088/0003281/Dissertation-Water-Resource-Management-by-the-Ancient-Maya-of-Yucatan-Mexico
GRANT_NUMBER: grant.0003281
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop via DimensionsWizard

Works (50 of 58)

Items per page:
Page 1 of 2

BRIQUETAGE AND BRINE: LIVING AND WORKING AT THE CLASSIC MAYA SALT WORKS OF EK WAY NAL, BELIZE

Ancient Mesoamerica
2023 | Journal article | Author
DOI: 10.1017/s0956536121000341
Part of ISSN: 0956-5361
Part of ISSN: 1469-1787
Contributors: Heather McKillop; E. Cory Sills
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Flooded mangrove landscapes hide ancient Maya coastal sites in Belize

Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology
2023-02-15 | Journal article | Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Formal analysis, Writing - original draft, Methodology
DOI: 10.1080/15564894.2022.2163323
Contributors: Heather McKillop
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Surplus Household Salt Production in the Classic Maya Economy

Seven Millennia of Saltmaking: 3rd International Congress on the Anthropology of Salt
2022 | Book chapter | Writing - original draft
Contributors: Heather McKillop
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

The Age and Construction of the LSU Campus Mounds: Consideration of Ellwood and Colleagues

The SAA Archaeological Record
2022 | Newsletter article
Contributors: Heather McKillop; Charles McGimsey; Rebecca Saunders; Jeff Homberg; Nancy Hawkins; Rob Mann
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Tree Selection for Late to Terminal Classic Maya Buildings at the Ek Way Nal Saltworks, Belize

CLAAS Notes: Journal of the Canadian Latin American Archaeology Society
2022 | Journal article
Contributors: Heather McKillop; E. Cory Sills
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Household salt production by the Late Classic Maya: underwater excavations at Ta'ab Nuk Na

Antiquity
2022-10 | Journal article | Author
DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2022.106
Part of ISSN: 0003-598X
Part of ISSN: 1745-1744
Contributors: Heather McKillop; E. Cory Sills
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Empowering undergrads in 3D Digital Imaging

Digital Heritage and Practice in Archaeology, volume 2
2022-07-05 | Book chapter
Contributors: Heather McKillop
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Salt as a Commodity or Money in the Classic Maya Economy

Journal of Anthropological Archaeology
2021 | Journal article
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Searching for Salt for Dietary and other Uses.

Salt in Eastern North American and the Caribbean, edited by Ashley A. Dumas and Paul N. Eubanksedited by Ashley A. Dumas and Paul N. Eubanks., pp. 164-174. University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa.
2021 | Book chapter
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Surface collections and excavations: Case Studies from Moho Cay, Wild Cane Cay, and the Paynes Creek Salt Works

CLAAS Notes: Journal of the Canadian Latin American Archaeology Society
2021 | Journal article
Contributors: Heather McKillop
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

The Last Frontier: Underwater archaeology

Tales from the Field
2021-08 | Book chapter
Contributors: Heather McKillop
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Mesoamerica

Companion to the Global Early Middle Ages, edited by Erik Hermann, pp. 393-421. Arc Humanities Press, Leeds, England.
2020 | Book chapter
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Recursos Costeros y Comercio

Arqueologia Mexicana
2020 | Journal article
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

The Belize coast in ancient Maya society

Research Reports in Belizean Archaeology 17: 179-187
2020 | Journal article
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

A Filtered Past: Interpreting Salt Production and Trade Models from Two Remnant Brine-Enrichment Mounds at the Ancient Maya Paynes Creek Salt Works, Belize. (Rachel Watson & Heather McKillop)

Journal of Field Archaeology 44:1: 40-51
2019 | Journal article
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Demystifying : Underwater Maya Discovery at Ek Way Nal, Belize (Heather McKillop, George Harlow, April Sievert, Wayne Smith, Michael Wiemann)

Antiquity
2019 | Journal article
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Ich’ak’tun: An Early Maritime Shell Midden Site on the South Coast of Belize.” (Heather McKillop and Robin Robertson)

Research Reports in Belizean Archaeology 16: 323-332.
2019 | Journal article
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Lost Mayas de Belice y la Sal Durante El Periodo Clásico

Archaeologia Mexicana 158: 58-62.
2019 | Journal article
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Maya Salt Works

University Press of Florida
2019 | Book
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Assessment of the shell midden at the Eleanor Betty Salt Work, Belize.” (Valerie Feathers and Heather McKillop).

Research Reports in Belizean Archaeology 15: 275-285.
2018 | Journal article
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Classic Maya fish processing and salt: a micro-wear analysis of chert artifacts from Paynes Creek Salt Works, southern Belize.” (Heather McKillop and Kazuo Aoyama)

American Antigua 21: 27-38. (in Japanese).
2018 | Journal article
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Contingent multi-crafting, surplus household production, and the Maya quest for salt.

Research Reports in Belizean Archaeology 15: 265-273.
2018 | Journal article
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

review of The Ancient Maya Marketplaqce

American Anthropologist
2018 | Book review
DOI: 10.1111/aman.13005
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Salt and marine products in the Classic Maya economy from use-wear study of stone tools (Heather McKillop and Kazuo Aoyama)

PNAS
2018 | Journal article
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Specialized salt production during the ancient Maya Classic period at two Paynes Creek Salt Works, Belize: Chan b’i and Atz’aam Na.” (E. Cory Sills and Heather McKillop)

Journal of Field Archaeology 43(6): 457-471.
2018 | Journal article
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Diving Deeper in Punta Ycacos Lagoon at the Paynes Creek Salt Works, Belize

Research Reports in Belizean Archaeology
2017 | Journal article
ISBN: 978-978-8264-10-1
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Early Maya Navigation and Maritime Connections in Mesoamerica

The Sea in History: The Medieval World
2017 | Book chapter
ISBN: 978-1-78327-159-7
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

The Paynes Creek Salt Works, Belize

The Value of Things
2017 | Book chapter
ISBN: 978-0-8165-3352-7
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Excavating the underwater shell deposit at an ancient Maya salt work in Belize: the Eleanor Betty Site

Research Reports in Belizean Archaeology 14: 289-297
2017-07-01 | Journal article
Contributors: Heather McKillop; Valerie Feather; E. Cory Sills; Rachel Watson
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Chemical signatures of ancient activities at Chan b'i

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
2016 | Journal article
DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.08.024
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Coastal Economies:

Perspectives on the Ancient Maya of Chetumal Bay
2016 | Book chapter
ISBN: 978-0-8130-6279-2
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Spatial Patterning of Salt Production and Wooden Buildings Evaluated by Underwater Excavations at Paynes Creek Salt Work 74

Research Reports in Belizean Archaeology
2016 | Journal article
ISBN: 978-978-8264-02-6
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

“Evaluating Ancient Maya Salt Production and the Domestic Economy

Research Reports in Belizean Archaeology
2015 | Journal article
ISBN: 978-976-8197-98-6
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Fueling the Ancient Maya Salt Industry

Economic Botany
2014 | Journal article
DOI: 10.1007/s12231-014-9263-x
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

The Ancient Maya Canoe Paddle and the Canoe from Paynes Creek National Park, Belize.

Research Reports in Belizean Archaeology
2014 | Journal article
ISBN: 978-976-8197-91-7
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Ancient Maya wood selection and forest exploitation: a view from the Paynes Creek salt works, Belize

Journal of Archaeological Science
2013 | Journal article
DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2013.04.028
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Brine Enriching Slag Heaps or Mounded Remains of Salt Makers’ Homes

Research Reports in Belizean Archaeology
2013 | Journal article
ISBN: 978-976-8197-79-5
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

Sustainable Archaeological Tourism of the Maya Paynes Creek project Using 3D Technology

Anthropology News
2013 | Newsletter article
DOI: 10.1111/j.1556-3502.2013.54507_s.x
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Underwater Excavations of Classic Period Salt Works, Paynes Creek National Park, Belize

Research Reports in Belizean Archaeology 10: 281-288
2013 | Journal article
Contributors: Heather McKillop; E. Cory Sills
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Constructing and Using a GIS for Fieldwork: The Underwater Maya Project

Research Reports in Belizean Archaeology 9: 267-278
2012 | Journal article
Contributors: Heather McKillop
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Stingray Lagoon and the nature of scientific discovery

Research Reports in Belizean Archaeology 8: 173-181
2011-07-01 | Journal article
Contributors: Heather McKillop
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Ancient Maya Canoe Navigation and their Implications for Classic and Postclassic Maya Economy and Trade

Journal of Caribbean Archaeology
2010 | Journal article
ISBN: ISBN 1524-4776
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Drowned Landscapes

Fiery Pool: The Maya and the Mythic Sea
2010 | Book chapter
ISBN: 978-0-87577-219-6
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

El descubrimeiento y mapeo de arquitectura de Madera del Clascio Maya en una turbera debajo del suelo marino en el Parque Nacional Paynes Creek, Belice

Los de la Cultura Maya
2010 | Book chapter
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Underwater Maya: Spatial Analysis of Briquetage and Wooden Buildings at the Paynes Creek Saltworks, Belize, Central America

Salt Archaeology in China, volume 2: Global Comparative Perspectives
2010 | Book chapter
ISBN: 978-7-03-027068-9
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

“A Late Holocene Record of Sea-Level Rise: the K’ak’ Naab’ Underwater Maya Site Sediment Record, Belize.”

ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings
2010 | Book chapter
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Ancient Vegetation and Landscape of Salt Production in Paynes Creek National Park, Belize

Research Reports in Belizean Archaeology 7: 245-252
2010-07-01 | Journal article
Contributors: Heather McKillop
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

The Architecture of Salt Production at the John Spang Site, Paynes Creek National Park, Belize

Research Reports in Belizean Archaeology 7: 253-258 (by E. Cory Sills and Heather McKillop)
2010-07-01 | Journal article
Contributors: Heather McKillop; E. Cory Sills
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

The Ancient Maya

Norton
2006 | Book
ISBN: 978-0-393-32890-5
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop

Finds in Belize document Late Classic Maya salt making and canoe transport

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
2005 | Journal article
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0408486102
Source: Self-asserted source
Heather McKillop
Items per page:
Page 1 of 2

Peer review (3 reviews for 2 publications/grants)

Review activity for Journal of archaeological science: Reports. (1)
Review activity for Quaternary science reviews. (2)
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