[Aztlan] Maya ruins found from space photo

[vgray (gotsky)]

Jorge, why do you consider the excavated portion is the area of interest, 
which forms at best no more than 30% of the whole image? It appears to me 
the discolorations in the surrounding areas, that have not been excavated, 
must be the portions of interest. Are you suggesting that research in its 
beginning stages should not be disseminated for perusal and discussion? I 
think it stands as rather obvious that early promising research by 
definition requires further research effort, but this does not mean that 
communication of such efforts should remain silent, just because they are in 
their infancy. There are times when skepticism might be a necessary 
response, but this should be a VERY rare element in one's general 
communications used only in extreme cases. There is certainly insufficient 
cause for skepticism in the science surrounding the use of vegetation 
discoloration, as a means of locating "unusual outcrops". I have always felt 
that undue skepticism is more than unscientific, and hinders progress and 
causes friction for frictions sake.

Central Tikal is certainly explored consolidated and studied, but I suspect 
its surrounding regions are not. The interesting point of the article is 
that on the ground, 100ft trees and dense undergrowth can obscure objects 
only 10 feet away, and explorers can stumble right through an ancient city 
and never realize it. It seems quite likely that further discoveries have 
yet to be made at Tikal in its surrounding regions.

Posting of that image is evidence that William Saturno's current interests 
extend beyond the boundaries of San Bartolo itself, and he means to gain a 
larger piece of the pie over a much extended geographical area, by using 
techniques that are currently in their "beginning stages". I would not be 
surprised if the remaining "lost portions" of Tikal are revealed as a 
consequence in the not too distant future.

It seems unlikely that San Bartolo alone would be subjected to satellite 
imaging and study by these techniques, which just happen to also be used at 
San Bartolo.

Cheers Cliff




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jorge Pérez de Lara" <jorgepl at estudioelias.com>
To: "Aztlan" <aztlan at lists.famsi.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2006 5:59 PM
Subject: [Aztlan] Maya ruins found from space photo


> Listeros,
>
> I'm surprised nobody has recognized the picture posted by Mike Ruggeri.
> It is central Tikal, which is certainly, explored consolidated and 
> studied. The Great Plaza, the Northern and Central Acropolises can be very 
> clearly made out.
>
> Bill Saturno, the head archaeologist at San Bartolo, is in fact working
> on an imaging project with NASA. They appear to have found an
> association between a certain "color signature" in the vegetation, in
> the form of a certain discoloration, in many areas where there are
> remnants of buildings. This could be tentatively explained by the
> concentration of certain, man-introduced materials ( the run-off of lime
> plaster from buildings and plazas?) into the soil, which appears to have
> affected regrowth after the cities were abandoned. Saturno talked about
> some examples of this at the Texas Meetings this year but, promising as
> it seems for the purpose of locating "lost" archaeological sites in the
> jungle, this research is still in its beginning stages.
>
> Jorge Pérez de Lara
>
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