PADO's Excellent Adventure -- Part Deux

As you'll likely recall, when we last left our PADO adventurers, they were just leaving the cool temperatures of the highland town of Gracias in search of the Honduran Maya site of Copan.


Three hours of winding mountain roads, police check-points and numerous untethered cattle, the caravan pulled into Copan safe and sound. It only took the students long enough to take quick shower and change clothes before they freed themselves from the shackles of Sandra and Bill and went to explore the town. (Meanwhile, Bill and Sandra rested and then went for coffee at a nearby cafe). Dinner was at a local eatery, after which the students went to a local club called the Lost Monkey.

The next morning, after a traditional breakfast of beans, eggs, tortillas and cheese, Team PADO hiked to the ruins of Copan. Though most of the archaeological remains in Honduras belonged to Lenca and other cultures, the site of Copan is a huge Maya center located just near the border with Guatemala. During the Classic period, Copan was a dominate center in the region, with contacts extending as far away as central Mexico. It's an amazing site full of imposing buildings, elaborate stone carvings chronicling the rise and fall of kings, and tunnels into the acropolis that allow a view of Copan's earliest history. The site has a number of stela, including many of 18 Rabbit, the 13th ruler of Copan, who was eventually captured and beheaded by the ruler of the nearby city of Quirigua.


Other highlights include the ballcourt, the acropolis, and the hieroglyphic staircase.


Because the Maya tended to construct their buildings on top of each other over time, archaeologists have been able to dig tunnels into the most recent versions of structures (such as the acropolis) to find the earlier versions that are buried beneath. Many of these earlier buildings contain the tombs of kings, such the site's founder Yax Kuk Mo. Some of these are open to the public.



After exploring the site, the group visited the Sculpture Museum which houses much of the original sculpture from the site, including carved stone stela of kings, markers commemorating their reigns and a full-sized reconstruction of Rosalila, one of Copan's earliest royal buildings.


The students continued their exploration of the Copan in the afternoon and, from all reports, called it an early night. Even though it was a great trip, everyone seemed to be happy to return to Jesus de Otoro and their own beds.

Coming up tomorrow, a photo diary of this summer's skin conditions and possibly the critters seen thus far in the field.