Friday, where have you been?

Typically, the first Friday after the field school students arrive in Honduras is always the "oh-my-god-it's-so-hot-I'm-so-exhausted-why-the bleep-is-there-no-water-in-the-shower" day. Our students have now been excavating for a full week and the sun, bugs, humidity, sun, and sun are starting to take their toll. To this group's credit, though, they seem largely unfazed by the hard work and remarkably ready to continue seeking out new adventure. Have I mentioned how great these kids are?

Since it was our last day of work until next week, all three excavation crews really powered through and got a lot done this morning. Over on Structure 5, where the sun never shines (we are all thoroughly envious of the perpetual shade here), Eric, Emily, Ben, and Sandra have exposed a large, flat chunk of adobe (bajareque) just beyond the edge of tumbled cobbles from the building.



On Structure 1, Thomas, Inga, Ivey, and Miranda have finally hit the really serious tumbled cobbles. A big hurdle for us today was removing huge stones in excess of half a meter long and heavy enough that we needed to call in reinforcements to move them. Here we see Thomas and Bill celebrating after moving the massive cobble at Bill's feet:


And, in the shadeless purgatory over on Structure 9, Denton, Meredith, Tomoe, and Bill are moving steadily down through tumble and fallen bajareque walls.


Back in the lab, the students have begun to work on processing the artifacts they are recovering from their excavations. This entails washing and drying everything, identifying and counting artifact types (pottery, lithics, incense burners, figurines, bajareque, and so on), and then carefully documenting everything on PADO forms. Finally, all notes and forms must be entered into the project computers.



Everyone always thinks of Indiana Jones style adventure when they think of archaeology, but in truth it's mostly about documentation.

Since the weekend is about to begin, we're heading off on our first field trip - a drive out to the old colonial capital of Honduras, Comayagua, where we'll visit the beautiful Spanish churches and tour the archaeological museum.

See you when we get back!