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.
I was very excited when I found this nich in center of bench. You say Tim you could not date burial,but thier were potery fracments I found thier I found in nich,what happened to them.Greg Spencer,mayan 157 @msn.com
Posted by: Greg Spencer | September 25, 2008 at 09:29 PM