Archaeological Investigations at Holmul, Petén, Guatemala
Preliminary Results of the Third Season, 2002

Other Explorations in the Holmul area

A short reconnaissance was conducted 5 km northeast of Holmul to explore the location where one of the eastern ’predicted’ paths led to Holmul and upon an informant’s suggestion that a large site may be located there. The survey team returned with information of a large ceremonial center located exactly along the predicted path (Figure 5). The architecture appeared to be of Late Classic date with several distinctive features. At the center of the site is a large raised rectangular acropolis platform supporting a number of partially collapsed buildings. Remains of red paint decorating several walls were noted inside one of the collapsed vaulted rooms. The architectural style of the masonry suggests a Late to Terminal date for some of the buildings. A plain stela was also found set on the side of one the buildings on the acropolis platform. Other smaller buildings surround this platforms including a small temple pyramid. The site is located near a perennial water source and creek which flows into the Holmul river a short distance from the source. The site’s name was known to the local informants as Peru and was changed to Hamontun (Water-Macaw-Stone). Detailed mapping of this site is planned for 2003.

Reconnaissance teams surveyed several hills approximately 6 km directly to the east of Holmul, and 2 km to the east-northeast of K’o.  The reconnaissance was motivated by GIS models and Landsat imagery suggesting the possibility of locating formal architecture. Justin Ebersole reported that two such test sites (Test 03 and 05) contained substantial architecture. Test 03 contained six structures, two of which arranged in an E-Group layout (Figure 7). At the Test 05 site, Ebersole recorded a 6 m high structure within a small E-Group, which also contained a plain stela (Figure 8).

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