Recorrido Arqueológico El Mesón

Fieldwork

Fieldwork for the RAM survey consisted of a full coverage pedestrian survey of the project area. Because the density of settlement was expected to be relatively high, and given the lack of previous knowledge of the area, a "siteless survey" (see Dunnell and Dancey 1983) technique was employed that focused on the identification of architectural features on the landscape and artifact concentrations rather than discrete site boundaries. This survey strategy has also been employed in the Mixtequilla region of South-Central Veracruz (Stark 1991; 2003:395-397). Crew members surveyed the project area at a 20 m transect spacing to insure that household scale data would be gathered. Once an architectural feature or artifact concentration was identified, it was measured and sketch mapped, and its location was recorded using a Magellan Meridian Platinum global positioning system receiver. Where visibility permitted, collections were made of surface artifacts. Decorated ceramics and rim sherds were collected until a total of 100 sherds were collected or the boundary of the architectural feature or artifact concentration was crossed. All other artifacts were collected. Artifacts too large to carry, including large groundstone objects, were documented and left in the field. When multiple architectural features were identified in the same place, such as a mound on top of a platform, each individual feature was documented and collected separately.

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