Current Projects

Project Oropendola: Recently 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. Although major economic setbacks were suffered locally during this turmoil, Copan remained peaceful and tranquil. Honduras has come through its political unrest with safe transparent presidential elections held in November 2009 and a new Government was installed as of January, 2010.

Casa K’inich Teachers’ Guidebook: This teachers’ guidebook helps Honduran teachers get the most out of their visit to Copan; available since 2005 a free PDF download in Spanish or English will be sent upon request by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or it can be downloaded off of the FAMSI website.  This manual is in the process of being re-written with additions that include the new exhibits in Casa K'inich inaugerated in March, 2008. Contributions from leaders in Maya research have made this unique and innovative resource available free to Honduran public school teachers and researchers.

Support to Honduran Students: Many Hondurans studying Maya-related topics at a university have scholarships but little income to augment their educational experiences with books, fieldwork and symposium. The foundation believes an educated Honduran presence is essential to the management and preservation of Copan and the rest of Honduran patrimony, so we offer support, but not scholarships to Honduran students studying topics that will help them care for Honduran national patrimony.