The University of Texas at Austin’s Programme for Belize Archaeological Project (PFBAP) has been active since 1992 under the direction of Dr. Fred Valdez.  During the summers of 1999 and 2000, investigations continued at several middle sized and small Maya sites, including Dos Hombres, Ma’ax Na, and Dos Barbaras.  The focus of the research at the Dos Hombres site was to define the commoner (i.e. the majority of the population being more than 95%) activity as related to the ruling elites (about 5% of the population).  Another aspect of the Dos Hombres research was testing and strategically excavating “non-elite” households to better define age-based and gender-based roles in the community.  Findings at this site revealed a crypt type tomb containing the burial and various items deposited with the deceased.  Among the find of the tomb were five complete ceramic vessels including a jaguar shaped bowl, a turkey effigy bowl and a slab-footed cylinder vessel with lid.  The latter item is considered to be a Teotihuacan-style container indicating communication (direct or indirect) with the central Mexican civilization. 

Dr. Hammond and Dr. Valdez also conducted joint research focused on better understanding the relationship between the central power, La Milpa, and its support system(s).

University of Texas: http://web.mac.com/bhouk/LMCP/LMCP_Home.html