MRP News

From Bob

Having been at  parts of Session 1  and 2  I can say there is a very good group of student volunteers and an equally good group of non-academic volunteers. The palapa is back in service and was sorely missed as the premier gathering spot.  The palapa dedication ceremony was great fun and the opening party featured limbo and leg wrestling contests.    Food  is good and on occasions, has taken a slightly different direction (with the assisting Hispanic staff) and might be called Mexonoite.  Breakfast and lunch are the same as previous years. The Hurricane a few weeks ago has left the Rio Azul and Rio Bravo at continued high levels and unfortunately cut short excavations at the buried Birds of Paradise field house. Excavations are continuing at Rosita and at Najal Noh.  Day temps have been mostly in the mid 80s but a few nights have been chilly beyond a sheet, so a l ight-weight blanket is good to have.  Other changes in the Blue Creek community include more restaurants but 3 Flags is still the go-to place. Day-off trips have included both Chan Chich and Lamanai where there is Maya architecture to see in various states of condition and resorts to take advantage of.

Rosita Update

Major excavations at the RS-9 patio group were wrapped up at the end of Session 1 with the exhumation of a burial from beneath a large bench located against the back wall of structure 24. The Bench measured over 3 meters in length and .6 meters in width. A niche was located on its centerline into which the sherds belonging to one or more pottery vessels were located.

When the bench was removed, the outline of a very large cut could be seen in the floor of the room. The cut is approximately 2 meters in length and is sealed by a thick plaster cap. Underneath the cap a series of large flat stones protected a cut into the hill’s bedrock. The stones were originally arranged in an inverted “V” which tented the contents of the crypt.

Preservation of the burial was less than optimal. Two rodent nests were discovered during the excavation, and the crypt was filled with damp organic soil. No human remains were discovered inside the crypt or in the surrounding area. A combination of animal and environmental impacts led to any remains being destroyed. Four jade beads were discovered at the head of the crypt. One of the beads was carved into a zoomorphic shape resembling the head of a jaguar. No ceramics were discovered in the crypt. This makes the dating of the actual burial impossible to determine at this time.

Pictures of the excavation can be seen by following this link.

Huricane Alma

Six hours before the official start of this years huricane season. The first named storm of the year made ladfall 25 miles due east of the Blue Creek camp. within moments the camp was innundated with winds and rain. Happily other than getting a heavy soaking everyone came out of the storm alright. No one was hurt and no damage occured to the camp. A few of the cabanas are leaking but we will take care of them as soon as the rain stops.

Right now all of the volunteers are sitting at the Lamanai Outpost bar drinking high priced Pina Coladas (if they are over 21) or Shirley Temples (if they are not). Excavations will resume tomorrow. We lost a day and a half to rain, but we will get it back when the whips get unpacked.