Archaeological Reconnaissance at Tixan: Explorations in the Southern Sierra del Lacandón National Park, Petén, Guatemala

Methodology

Following the general survey methodology of the SLRAP, reconnaissance was conducted with the assistance of guides who are former residents of the refugee CPR-P communities and are intimately familiar with the terrain of the Sierra del Lacandón National Park. Rather than conducting straight-line transects, reconnaissance generally involved opportunistic travel to undocumented sites known to the guides, and additional settlement was often identified and recorded during these trips. GPS coordinates, field notes, and photographs were taken for all significant cultural and natural features. A sample of the settlement from each site was mapped using a handheld Leica Disto EDM and compass. When possible, ceramic samples were recovered from the surface and in looter's trenches in order to date the settlement. No excavation was undertaken.

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