By Belize Live News Staff: Belize’s archaeological and academic communities are mourning the loss of Dr. James F. Garber, a pioneering archaeologist whose work over the past five decades helped shape modern understanding of Maya civilization in Belize.
Dr. Garber first arrived in Belize in the late 1970s as a graduate student under the mentorship of Dr. David Freidel, contributing significantly to the excavation of the now-iconic Mask Temple (Structure 5C-2nd) at Cerros. His groundbreaking research later became the basis of his Ph.D. dissertation on Maya material culture and artifact use.
Garber went on to become a professor at Texas State University, but his bond with Belize remained strong. Over the years, he participated in and led major projects across the country—from Ambergris Caye to the Belize River Valley—collaborating with fellow archaeologists such as Dr. Tom Guderjan and Dr. Jaime Awe.
Later in his career, Garber partnered with Belize’s Institute of Archaeology to investigate the country’s colonial roots at St. George’s Caye, demonstrating a rare versatility in both prehistoric and historic archaeology.
The Institute hailed his deep contributions and described Garber as more than a scholar—he was a cherished colleague and friend whose legacy lives on in every excavation, publication, and student he inspired.
