Completed ProjectsProject Oropendola: The Copan Maya Foundation provided emergency funding to the Oropendola Project which had come to a standstill after years of work due to major political unrest in the central government. A large amount of tunnel consolidation work had been finished and a small section remained. The project could not continue because the new government was left with a major fiscal disaster. International aid had been frozen and time was running out because the project was due to shut down in less than six months. Copan Maya Foundation provided the necessary funds to complete consolidating the tunnels and also many delicate conservation tasks. A conservator was obtained for two months to finish much of the restoration of ceramic vessels removed from Tomb 08.01 in Oropendola Temple. During this time a journalist from Archaeology Magazine arrived to do research for an article. The exclusive article became the cover story of its September/October 2009 edition. Because of funds provided by Copan Maya Foundation years of work that would have been lost were rescued and the fifth-century tomb was presented to the world through this article. Expansion of Casa K’inich: Unique in the Maya world, the Casa K’inich has been lauded by articles in many international magazines and newspapers and has garnered attention from the directors of the World Bank. Casa K'inich was expanded to three times its original size and re-inaugurated on March 25, 2008 in Fuerte Cabanas, a rescued refurbished building overlooking the Village of Copan. It is open six days a week Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. until noon and 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.. Special tours can be arranged by calling 504.651.4105 or 504.651.4103 in Copan Ruinas. The entrance is free to children under the age of 18 and adults pay L20 ($1.25). These donations help maintain Casa K'inich.
Ancient Maya Demonstration Garden: Offering an additional, intriguing, Maya-related experience for Copan’s 160,000 annual visitors, a demonstration garden provides tourists with the opportunity to see what the ancient Maya grew, and learn about ancient American cuisine, foods and plants. Additionally, the innovative garden serves regional subsistence farmers, by offering experiential classes in seed diversity, nutrition, and ancient and modern organic agricultural techniques.
Copan Nature Trails: Winding through the Copan Valley, nature trails include outlying, rarely-visited Maya stelae, (carved stone monuments) as well as commentaries from leading biologists about unique regional plants, mammals, butterflies and birds. We have funded initial plans for the maps, signs, and guidebooks, but need funds for implementation and training for local guides.
Website: By offering a dynamic web-based resource, the foundation opens Copan to the world. A children's website for Casa K'inich is being planned. Educational Garden: This education garden, sponsored with the municipality of Copan, has a thatch roofed “sacred champa” that teachers can use for outdoor classes, benches inlaid with carved Maya numbers, a huge “k’in” emblem (Maya sun or day glyph) decorating the ground, regional plants and flowers and three fiberglass replicas of Copan’s stone monuments.
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