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

List of Figures

Figure   1.   3-D view of the Holmul environmental setting. Landsat image draped on surface model obtained from 1:50000 topographic maps. Sites investigated in 2002 are noted.
Figure   2.   Area of the Holmul site center mapped as of 2002. Survey transects to the east, north and south are not included.
Figure   3.   Map of the La Sufricaya area as surveyed in 2001 by Marc Wolf showing stelae and excavations.
Figure   4.   Map of Cival as mapped in 2002 by Wolf and Gardella with adaptations from Ian Graham’s unpublished map.
Figure   5.   3-D view of the region surrounding Holmul showing nearby major and minor sites and GIS-predicted optimal paths.
Figure   6.   Map of Hahakab.
Figure   7.   Plan of Site 3, located and mapped by Justin Ebersole based on a GIS/Remote sensing prediction to the east of Holmul.
Figure   8.   Plan of Site 5, located and mapped by Justin Ebersole based on a GIS/Remote sensing prediction to the east of Holmul.
Figure   9.   View of topography of Holmul and cultural features mapped as of 2002, including western transect (up to 3.5 km), north, east and south transects (up to 1 km). Logging trails, structures, chultuns, quarries and terraces are shown as overlays of a DEM generated with Star3i interferometry radar data at 10 m IFOV resolution (courtesy of NASA).
Figure 10.   Excavation TP25 in eastern structure of Group 13, showing foundation of Terminal Classic perishable building and midden in the left corner.
Figure 11.   Profile of T-24 excavation in southern wall feature of Group 13, Holmul.
Figure 12.   South profile of looters’ tunnel in Str. 2, Group III A, showing two construction phases, the earlier of which was followed by a side tunnel.
Figure 13.   View of the tunnel in Str. 2, Group III A, exposing earlier stucco apron molding and bench façade.
Figure 14.   View of excavation into Str. 50, Group III A, showing the exterior plaster floor, masonry wall, doorway and interior bench on the centerline in the background.
Figure 15.   View of doorjamb, interior floor and bench of Str. 50. In the far right is a looters’ cut.
Figure 16.   View of stairway deeply buried under Str. 50’s interior floor.
Figure 17.   Excavation of Str. 44’s southeastern corner (Group III A) showing intentional termination of walls and in filling with fine marl.
Figure 18.   A) Plan view of Group III Courts A and B, showing access and location of Structures 43, 44 and 2. B) Sketch plan of Str. 43 after 2001 excavation (drawing by R. Mongelluzzo).
Figure 19.   View of Court B in Group III, with excavation T21 on eastern stairway of Str. 43 prior to uncovering the lowest step. One of the carved stones decorating the building is set on the top step.
Figure 20.   Sculpture with pod motif carving found on rubble over stairway in Str. 43, probably part of a veneer stone frieze decorating the building. The pop sign identifies it as a "seat of power."
Figure 21.   View of excavation T-21 under latest floor and stairway of Str. 43, showing construction fill (on sides) and an earlier floor underneath.
Figure 22.   View of excavation TP23 exposing the stairway of Str. 60, the southern structure of the palace courtyard (Group III, Court B). A Terminal Classic midden is located in the far corner below a vaulted tunnel, and between the two buildings (Str. 43 and 60).
Figure 23.   View of excavation TP28 in South Group 1, 1 km from Holmul plaza, showing platform, floor, doorjamb, and interior bench of a vaulted residential building. See also Appendix B.
Figure 24.   Western profile of excavations TP28 & 29, Str. SG1.1 showing masonry walls, floors and a burial under the rubble.
Figure 25.   Plan view of multi-chambered chultún in center of South Group 1. Drawing by Jason Pales.
Figure 26.   View of excavation TP26 in Str. SG2 showing floor, doorjamb, and interior bench.
Figure 27.   Eastern profile of looters’ trench into Str. 1 at K’o showing tomb chamber, below Phase II stairway and Phase III masonry façade.
Figure 28.   View of cache in Str. 1 at K’o after excavation in the western profile (see drawings in Appendix B).
Figure 29.   Map of Group 1 at La Sufricaya and sketch map of Str. 1 on Group showing looters’ trenches, excavations and investigated mural-bearing walls.
Figure 30.   South Profile of excavation ST07 in Str. 1, Group 1 at La Sufricaya showing walls of mural 1-3 room (far right) and later floor above it and a new exterior wall and floor (left).
Figure 31.   Western profile of southern tunnel in Str. 1, Group 1, at La Sufricaya showing walls SL06-10 and SL06-11 separated by fill. Wall SL06-11 bears the mural.
Figure 32.   Profile of looters’ trench in Structure 1 at La Sufricaya.
Figure 33.   Western section of painting on wall SL06-11 in Str. 1 at La Sufricaya. To the left is a corner also painted in red and to the right is the looters’ trench cut.
Figure 34.   Eastern section of painting on wall SL06-11 in Str. 1 at La Sufricaya. To the left is the looters’ trench cut and to the right is the corner of the building.
Figure 35.   View of multispectral imaging equipment set in Room 1 La Sufricaya Str. 1 in front of mural 1 and 3 walls.
Figure 36.   Mosaic composite of high-resolution sub-frames of mural 3 wall in Room 1, La Sufricaya Str. 1, taken at the visible band-width.
Figure 37a. Detail of high-resolution visible-bandwidth imaging of Maya figures painted on mural 3 wall in Room 1, Str. 1.
Figure 37b. Detail of multispectral imaging of mural 3 in Str. 1 taken at two infrared band widths, 450 nm (left) and 900 nm (right) showing black drawing outline under color pigments (in Figure 36).
Figure 38.   Two digital images of Fragments 1 (above) and 8 of Stela 1 from La Sufricaya artificially joined.
Figure 39.   Drawing of fragments 1-3 completing Stela 1 from La Sufricaya. Drawn by Nikolai Grube.
Figure 40.   View of excavation T12 showing stela fragment 8 resting on humus, an eroded floor and bedrock.
Figure 41.   Photo of La Sufricaya Stela 6 showing the new day and month glyph found in 2002 (left).
Figure 42.   Drawing of Stela 6 with 8.17.?.9.9 Long Count date (left) and name glyph of Siaj K’ak (Smoking Frog, center) possibly repeated, and mention of a local lord. Drawing by Nikolai Grube.
Figure 43.   Excavation in residential Group WT4, showing Monument 9 (right) and Stela 10 (left). A cache of ceramics and human bone was found between the two monuments.
Figure 44.   Monument 9 of La Sufricaya from Group WT4.  Drawing by Andie Gehlhausen (A front and B side).
Figure 45.   Excavation in Str. S110 with outside wall in the foreground, inner room with collapsed vault on the left and filled in space to the right.
Figure 46.   Phase 1 of Structure 5. Buried red painted stairway and terrace mouldings.
Figure 47.   Excavated remains of Phase 3 beveled stone architecture (foreground) overlaying Phase 2’s white-plastered apron mouldings and inset corners.
Figure 48.   View of excavation in Cival Str. 9, near Stela 1.
Figure 49.   Reconstructable chert chisel recovered next to Stela 1 main fragment.
Figure 50.   Detail of two conjoinable fragments of Stela 1 with carving of a right arm holding a manikin scepter.
Figure 51.   Photo of Cival Stela 2 carving taken in 2002 (photo Marco Gross).
Figure 52.   Cival, Stela 2. Drawing by Nikolai Grube. Maximum height 177 cm high; width 107 cm.
Figure 53.   K'o Looters' Trench 1, Structure 1 (J.P. Ebersole).
Figure 54.   Holmul 2002 (C. Hewitson).
Figure 55.   South Group 1, Trench 28, Burial and Cut, Plan View (J.P. Ebersole).
Figure 56.   Looters' trenches.
Figure 57.   South Group 1, Trench 28, Plan View (J.P. Ebersole).
Figure 58.   South Group 1, Trench 29, East Wall Profile (J.P. Ebersole).
Figure 59.   Holmul 2002, T21, South Profile (Chris Hewitson).
Figure 60.   Cival, Structure 5, Group 1, South and North Profiles (Claudio Lozano).
Figure 61.   Cival, Structure 5, Group 1, North Profile of looters' trench (Claudio Lozano Guerra-Librero).
Figure 62.   La Sufricaya, Structure 1, Mural 1 (Jena DeJuilio).
Figure 63.   La Sufricaya, Structure 1, Mural 3 (Jena DeJuilio).
Figure 64.   Holmul Ball Court Marker 1. Drawing by Nikolai Grube.
Figure 65.   La Sufricaya, Stela 5. Drawing by Nikolai Grube.
Figure 66.   La Sufricaya, Stela 2. Drawing by Nikolai Grube.
Figure 67.   La Sufricaya, Stela 5a. Drawing by Nikolai Grube.
Figure 68.   La Sufricaya, Stela 5b. Drawing by Nikolai Grube.

List of Appendices

Appendix A.  Ceramics, Holmul 2002, Petén, Guatemala

Appendix B.  Drawings, Holmul 2002, Petén, Guatemala

Appendix C.  Epigraphy, Drawings by Nikolai Grube, Holmul 2002, Petén, Guatemala

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