Belize River East Archaeology is a project that was initiated in 2011 by Dr. Eleanor Harrison-Buck to investigate the deep history of human-environment interaction in the lower half of the Belize River Watershed. Today the project is directed by Dr. Harrison-Buck of the University of New Hampshire and co-directed by Dr. Marieka Brouwer Burg of the University of Vermont.

The Belize River served as a major transportation route, linking settlements in the inland Petén region of Guatemala with the Caribbean Coast, from Pre-Maya to ancient Maya times, and continuing through the colonial period. Extensive archaeological investigations have been conducted in the upper reaches of the Belize River valley around the archaeological sites of Xunantunich, Cahal Pech, Baking Pot, and Barton Ramie. Surprisingly, the lower half of the Belize River Valley, closest to the coast, has remained largely unexplored until now, despite the key role this section of the river valley played in the movement of goods and people.