ASM Affiliates Inc. to Assist in Geophysical Research at Kaminaljuyu

Kaminaljuyu was once the largest site in the Guatemalan highlands with over 200 structures in an area of approximately 5 square kilometers. Only 35 structure mounds associated with Kaminaljuyu remain. The World Monument Fund has declared Kaminaljuyu on their “watch” list due to urban growth. It is important to do as much research as possible of what remains of the site.

ASM will be working in conjunction with Dr. Hector Neff of California State University Long Beach to map portions of the remaining intact structures associated with Kaminaljuyu with remote sensing equipment, specifically ground penetrating radar. The geophysical survey will also assist in locating subsurface monuments that have yet to be uncovered. Our collaboration with Dr. Neff will efficiently and effectively provide much needed information for a larger area of the site than could be accomplished by traditional archaeological field methods. 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.

Monday, January 24, 2011

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

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2 comments:

  1. SylviaJanuary 24, 2011 at 8:52 PM

    I can't wait to see more pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Karen KeevilJanuary 25, 2011 at 7:00 AM

    Wow, Jimmy! Great work. Interesting that I just watched a documentary from Nova about the translation of the Mayan writings. Fascinating!

    ReplyDelete

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