Martin Kyle Drennen (He/Him/His) (2027) | Anthropology
Martin Drennen, a fourth-year Anthropology major with a minor in History, is researching the Mesoamerican Ballgame and its role in the lives of everyday Maya communities in Classic Period Belize. Through a cross-site analysis of ballcourts, archaeological evidence, and field observations at sites such as Caracol, Martin is exploring how these spaces shaped social and community life beyond the elite. His research also brings together the history of ancestral Maya communities with the experiences of descendant Maya communities today. By focusing on the people behind the archaeological record, Martin hopes to contribute research that better represents Maya communities and provides a foundation for future scholarship.
What first drew you to this topic? Was there a moment, class, experience, or question that made you want to learn more?
I have always been fascinated with history, and in a time of vast human crises and global issues, the importance of the history of humanity is becoming ever more evident. Anthropology, and more specifically archaeology, has provided me with a better understanding of the past of humanity and society that helps me better understand the present. It allows me to better understand how societies were weakened or strengthened by their decisions and actions and, most importantly, how they were able to overcome times of societal strain and difficulties. Realizing that I could utilize what I learn in this field to find solutions for the contemporary problems of global society sparked a strong interest and fascination in learning more within this field.
How would you explain your research to someone who knows nothing about your field?
My current research focuses on the Mesoamerican Ballgame by understanding the experiences of non-elite ancestral Maya society through a cross-site analysis. Throughout Mesoamerican history, the Ballgame played a central role in shaping the political, social, and ritual aspects of Mesoamerican cultures. Archaeological evidence of this game stems from dedicated architectural structures known as ballcourts where the game was played, iconographic depictions (e.g., vessels, ceramic figurines, murals), documents from Spanish contact, monuments (e.g., stone markers, stelae), references in important texts such as the Popol Vuh, and other material culture (e.g., rubber balls, lithics). Hundreds of ballcourts are documented throughout the Maya Lowlands, notably in Belize, especially during the Classic Period (250–1000 CE). Despite the game’s influence on Maya sites in Belize, many regional aspects of the game have only been minimally explored. My research asks how the ballgame, particularly ballcourts, functioned for everyday people in Classic Period Belize. By synthesizing existing literature, analyzing ballcourt data (e.g., architecture), and conducting field observations at sites such as Caracol, this research will provide greater granularity and specificity regarding the majority of everyday Maya citizens’ relationship to the Ballgame. Through identifying patterns (e.g., dimensions of ballcourts) and uncovering unanswered questions in the archaeological record, my project aims to clarify how non-elite Maya participated in and experienced the Ballgame, showing how such spaces structured social life and expanding understanding of lived experiences within Classic Period Belize.
What was the most exciting or rewarding part of working on this project?
So far, the most exciting part of working on this research project has been the opportunity to begin to bridge the gap between the ancestral and descendant Maya communities I am representing in my research. I have gotten to both work on ancient Maya sites, representing ancestral Maya communities and build relationships/work with descendent Maya communities and individuals. This aspect of my research is why I do what I do. I am able to help these communities become closer to their heritage and uncover parts of their ancestry that might have been lost to time,.In turn, I am able to build relationships and gain experiences that evolve my way of thinking and add to my perspectives in a positively impactful way. The most important part of archaeological research, and broader anthropological research, is the people you represent; this research allows me to center myself around that ideal.
What’s something you discovered through your research that surprised you or changed the way you think about the topic?
One thing I discovered through my research that surprised me and changed the way I think about archaeology (and specifically my focus on the Ballgame and Maya communities) has been the amount of questions that cannot easily be answered for reasons such as funding, resources, time constraints, and, most obviously, the archaeological record. Factors like these can make archaeological work very difficult and can easily halt projects or change their intended directions. I now approach my current research project very differently than when I started. I have had to open my mind more to different ideas and methods and have had to become flexible when proceeding with my research.
What do you hope comes out of this research, whether that’s something you continue exploring or simply something you take with you from the experience?
First, I hope to contribute a proper and just representation of the indigenous Maya communities that I am working with, both ancestral and descendant. I am doing this research for them, so how they are represented is of utmost importance to me. Second, I hope to add meaningful research that later scholarship can build upon. Research is an ongoing process, and one of my goals is to conduct research that others can use. Lastly, I hope to learn more as a scholar and researcher and grow my skills and methods. This will allow me to conduct better research in the future, and help other scholars and colleagues that I work with by sharing my experiences and what has and hasn’t worked for me.