The Institute of Archeology is planning for the 19th anniversary of the annual Belize Archaeology Symposium hosted at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel in San Ignacio, Cayo. Researchers and their students have also shown great interest in having poster displays over the three days of the symposium.

The Belize Archaeology Symposium (BAS) is recognized as the leading source for current archaeological information in Belize. The IA continues to promote and foster research in areas such as Maya, Colonial, Underwater and Cave archeology as well as in the Archaic, Paleo-Indian, Historic periods in Belize.

The Symposium provides an arena whereby archaeologists, students, tour guides, and other aficionados can discuss and exchange ideas about their current research and the latest developments in archaeology. The presentations are scheduled in half-hour slots, divided into a twenty (20) minute power-point and lecture-style presentation with a ten (10) minute period for questions and/or comments. This format has proven most successful in facilitating a one-to-one exchange between the researcher and the audience. Participants in previous symposiums have stated that this is a critical feature which is lacking at most international and larger conferences.