A typical day in Belize at an archeological dig is never easy, says James Stemp, assistant professor of sociology at Keene State. He wakes before sunrise and piles into the back of a trailer with other researchers to drive to the site. After a brisk uphill walk to the site, James spends the day excavating and screening dirt, looking for fragments of - or sometimes intact - artifacts of the ancient Mayan. Sometimes he maps the site or photographs interesting finds. While the location is exotic, work as an archeologist is not romantic, he warns. There is no electricity for hot showers and lab work is completed by candlelight.

James's first archeological dig was at Trent University's field school at Minanha in Belize. He later served as the laboratory director and lithic (stone tools) analyst at the field school, working with visiting students from the university. He specializes in the role of technology, namely stone tools, in ancient Mayan society, and the application of modern technology to interpret the behaviors of prehistoric peoples.

James's work in Belize, he says, has given him a connection with the Mayan culture and history. Although he's only taught at Keene State for a year, James is already sharing his passion for archeology and Mayan society with his students: recent graduate Amber Standish worked at the Minanha site this summer. This year, James will teach three courses at Keene State: cultural anthropology, archeology and physical anthropology, and world prehistory. And, of course, he hopes to encourage a few more students to pack their trowels and brushes and head to Belize.