Ceren Archaeological Excavations

Hi again,

A view of our current excavations at Ceren.
located along the southern boundary of the
archaeological site.
(From right to leftÑ Ops Q, R, S, and T)



Today we encountered more hollow cavities in our four excavations.  These excavations are alligned west to east and named Ops Q, R, S and T  (these letterings are a continuation of our system used in 2009). These Ops are all 3 m x 3m in size and are currently over 4 meters deep with still more excavating to do. Ops Q, R, and S are each spaced 5m from each other and are in a line . OP T is to the east and north of Op S.  In the furthest Op (operation) west, we have identified what appear to be the hollow cavities of three different maize plants. In Op R we have two maize cavities that are in a line with each other.  Curiously in Op S we are the furthest down in the stratigraphic sequence and only found one hollow cavity (maize plant) in the far eastern wall of the Op. This is very surprising and we are not sure what we will find when we reach the Ceren living horizon (called Tierra Blanca Joven after the fine, white volcanic tephra that Cerenians used 1400 years ago as their living surface).



Carefully cleaning around a recent hollow cavity found
in the volcanic tephra. These are the tops of plants that
once lived here 1400 years ago that were subsequently
buried by the Loma Caldera eruption.



We are hypothesizing there might be a cleared activity area here, but honestly do not know at present why there is one maize plant in the Op and nothing else thus far. We have been very careful not to miss any hollow spaces, so this means that at the time of the eruption  there was no plants present at this height about the ground surface.  What was on the ground surface (if anything) and what that ground surface looked like remain to be seen.



In Op T we have found multiple plants that are a potential milpa area. We are still not entirely sure of the alignment of these plants but will be able to see this more clearly as we excavate more.



Today we continued these excavations and I helped to train the new individuals on our project in proper excavation methods. When we encountered hollow cavities we investigated these, then rolled up newpaper to put into the holes as a protection while we continue to excavate the rest of the Op.



Tomorrow we will excavate more, and then mix up dental plaster to pour into each of the hollow cavities. We will then continue to excavate and when the plaster has set, we will excavate these to reveal the plant that was entombed in that spot 1400 years ago.





  








Yesterday we set out a few future excavation pits for our next spots to dig. My advisor, 

Ceren Structure 3 (excavated many years ago)
This structure is thought to be a building of politial importance
due to the benches (raised areas) at the front of the building.
There was also a very large vessel found here with another
smaller vessel that was likely used as a laddle for the contents
of the very large (largest so far found at the site) vessel.
Possibly ceremonial beer that was consumed when village elders
met to make political decisions.

 Payson Sheets, and I used compasses to establish a line from the main political building at Ceren (structure 3) to the area we are working, By placing an excavation along this line in the southern area of the site we are hopeful we can see how the fields are artiulated in direction and distance from the site center. In a very touching moment as we were standing next to Structure 3 my advisor gave me one of his Brunton compasses- somewhat of a rite of passage. 

  

Measuring the test pit depth

below the ground-surface (4m+)



We finished the day setting off some Salvadorian fireworks to celebrate these finds! Now I´m headed home to wait for the water supply to come back on so that I can shower!



The good stuff has just begun, so stay tuned.

Chris





My advisor, Payson Sheets, and I preparing to set off a rocket!

(some of our workers are hiding behind the back dirt pile)

Payson running after setting off a firework.
This one was very cool and I hadn´t seen it before. Basically,
it was gun powder wrapped up in newpaper with a fuse.
When this one exploded the newspaper flew apart like confetti!

*Do NOT try this at home

Front of Structure 3, Ceren
We used compasses to determine the alignment
of these walls and all were aligned from North
to South at 33 degrees east of mag. N. 
We are setting up a test pit that will intersect this line
continued from the site to the southern area we
are currently working in.