Final Day at Kaminaljuyu

Today was the last day for me at Kaminaljuyu.  We were able to get a great deal of geophysical data for a large portion of the site.  I will post more of the results when I get back to California.  I would just like to take this time to thank my colleagues for their assistance, generosity and friendship.  Their assistance and professionalism was essential in collecting the geophysical data. Thanks to Alejandro Garay, Emanuel Serech, Javier Estrada, Victor Mendoz, Henry Rodriguez, Patricia Mah, Glorian Aju, Adriana Linares, Lorena Paiz, and Margarita Cossich.  I would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Barbara Arroyo for the opportunity to work at such an amazing site.  Also, a special thanks to my mentor and former professor Dr. Hector Neff for collaborating with me on this project.  Hopefully our work will make a difference in the understanding of the history of Kaminaljuyu. 

Preliminary GPR Results

 I have decided it's time to post some of the GPR results from the past four days.  There is still a great deal of post processing that needs to be done to smooth the data from grid to grid and account for changes in topography which is extremely drastic in areas.  Regardless the results thus far appear promising and exiting.  Today we completed four 25-x-25 m grids next to the excavated portion of the acropolis.  It was extremely difficult work given the steep inclines in the area.  The images I have posted below only depict the second time slice of the processed data.  The second time slice is from 5 to 11 nanoseconds which has an estimated depth of approximately 25 to 50 cm.  There are interestin anomalies in the subsequent time slices but further processing is needed and 6:00 am arrives early.  The data from the second time slice appear to contain geometric patterns of anomalies suggestive of structures or architecture.  The data also contains numerous large highly reflective anomalies possibly suggestive of burried monuments or some other large lithic item.  There are also patterns in the lower reflections such as the dark circular pattern visible in the Acropolis grids.  Obviously there is more work to be done in interpreting the data.  Tomorrow we will continue in the acropolis with two more grids and hopefully move down to the nice flat plaza area to the east. 

Day Three at Kaminaljuyu

We were able to complete four additional GPR grids today.  During lunch it began to rain so we decided not to continue with the geophysical survey.  Just before lunch we began etablishing grids in unexcavated portions of the acropolis.  Hopefully, weather permiting, we will begin those tomorrow.  The afternoon was spent at the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology in Guatemala City.  Here we used the XRF to analyze stone monuments from Kaminaljuyu just as we did at the site on Monday.  The idea is to determine the geographical source of the monuments' material and if the monuments derive from different geographical locaitons.  I'm currently processing all of the GPR data that we have collected.  I have a great deal more work to do as far as filtering and optimizing the visual display of the data.  So far there are various large anamolies in each of the grids that we've survey as well as a few linear patterns possibly suggestive of subsurface architecture.  As soon as I am satisfied with the processed data I will post them. In the mean time I've posted a few pictures from the last couple of days.  When I get back to the states and have a little down time I'll be able to organize the blog a little better, correct any typos or misinformation, and post some additional media and results regarding the project.  I would like to thank Dr. Arroyo for the opportunity to work at such an amazing site and all of the students from the Universidad de San Carlos for their assistance in the geophysical surveys.

Second Day of Field Work: Geophysics Begin!

We began what I like to call our dualing GPR survey today.  Between Dr. Neff and I and our extremely awesome Guatemalan colleagues, we were able to compile four GPR grids in the Palangana of the site.  Right now I'm processing data so, I'll post photos and possible some of the results later tonight.

First Day in the Field

Today was our first day at the Kaminaljuyu site.  We took this opportunity to tour the site with Dr. Barbara Arroyo and, it is truly impresive.  We began with a tour of the acropolis which includes several talud tablero (Teotihuacan style) temple structures with angular based steps leading to an overhanging flat facade.  Within this complex are several tunnels that were excavated out by previous archaeologists in decades past that allow you to navigate between structures.  A burial with offerings was also exposed during previous work within one of the structures.  We also visited a couple other structures outside of the park that are apart of the greater Kaminaljuyu complex included El Chay that has multiple decorative masks on the temple steps and the facades are decorated with large obsidian pieces.  We also managed to set up the first four grids for our geophysical survey which will begin in the Palangana in the southern portion of the preserved park.  Portions of the Palengana have already been excavated.  Palangana refers to the pan shaped area in the south of the park.  Our work will determine if the architecture seen in the excavations continues and if so how it may appear.  We also manage to begin assaying some of the columnated basalt monuments scatterered around the site with the XRF.  Tomorrow we will begin our dual GPR survey of the Palangana. 

Talud Tablero Style Structure

Burial beneath acropolis structure

Excavated portion of the Palangana

Sculptures of Kaminaljuyu outside the park

Facades of El Chay

XRF of Columnar Basalt Monuments

Arrival in Guatemala

We arrived at about 9:00 am this morning in Guatemala City. Dr. Barbara Arroyo met us at the airport. We are staying at the apartment of Dr. Fred Bove as he is in Costa Rica. Below is a photo from his balcony.  We are waiting on a few pieces of Dr. Neff's luggage to arrive on a later flight.  We hope they will arrive tomorrow morning.  Thus far we've rented a vehicle and picked up some provisions for the week.  Unfortunately I only have a short time here in Guatemala but, Dr. Neff will be working here at Kaminaljuyu an additional week to do magnetometry in addition to our GPR survey.  This week, not only will we be employing GPR at the site, we will also be assaying basalt monuments in the park and in the museum with the portable XRF in an effort to determine the source for the raw material these monuments were carved from.  I will have access to the internet for the duration of my stay so, I hope that within the next few days I'll be able to post some interesting findings.  I can't wait to see the site tomorrow.  Saludos mis amigos.

Introduction and Preparing for the Trip to Guatemala

My name is Jimmy Daniels. I am a Senior Archaeologist at cultural resource management (CRM) firm in Carlsbad California. The firm is ASM Affiliates. In later half of 2010 I began discussing with my colleagues and supervisors at the firm the possibility of providing our services to an academic research venture in Guatemala in conjunction with my former professor from California State University Long Beach (CSULB). The project would involve an extensive geophysical investigation of the largest known Mayan Highland site of Kaminaljuyu. Much of the site has been impacted by urban development. Our work will assist in the rescue efforts of Dr. Barbara Arroyo, a research associate at the University of Texas at Austin and the Center for Archaeological and Anthropological Research of the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. A portion of the site has been set aside as a national park. Little work has been done to determine the layout of the site.

ASM and CSULB will employ two Geophysical Survey Systems Inc. (GSSI) SIR-3000 ground penetrating radar (GPR) systems in an effort to characterize the subsurface of the preserved area of Kaminaljuyu including unexposed structure mounds. The operation of two of the instruments will allow us to cover a larger area in a shorter time.
In addition to using GPR to map the subsurface of the site. Dr. Neff will be employing a Geometrics magnetometer. This may prove very useful in detecting the locations of unknown monuments. A Bruker portable X-ray Florescence (XRF) will also be used to assay known basalt monuments in a provenience study to determine where the material for these monuments was transported from.

Today I will be preparing for the flight to Guatemala. We will most likely begin work as soon as possible, perhaps Sunday afternoon. I would like to begin by taking some video of the site itself. Hopefully I'll be able to post this to the blog. We undoubtable will be working long days to maximize coverage with the GPR units. As the work progresses I will post processed data results for any interesting discoveries.