Week 1 (Jan 15 – Jan 29, 2017)

The first weeks of the field season (called a cumulative “Week 1”) were characterized by lots of travel, driving, and careful preparation. The field season officially commenced when Adrian and I arrived in Belize on Friday, January 21, 2017 after overnighting in the Dallas airport. However, six men and three ladies were actually brought into the Caracol field camp on January 15 to repair all of the huts and outhouses, put the showers back up, get the kitchen functional, and bush the various residential groups that we targeted for excavation at the end of the 2016 field season. On Monday morning, January 23, I met with John Morris in the Institute of Archaeology and picked up our permit; the afternoon was spent picking up kitchen and field supplies in Spanish Lookout. Our first trip into Caracol was made on Tuesday January 24, bringing in these supplies and seeing what else was needed for the kitchen. Another supply trip was made to Caracol on Wednesday. After fixing a flat tire on Thursday morning in Cayo, Adrian and I went in to Caracol to stay. We started to organize Lab 1 and to unpack the various laboratory coolers. On Friday, I left from Caracol to drive to the Belize airport to pick up Diane and Amy Morris, bringing them back into the site in late afternoon. On Saturday, Melissa Badillo arrived at the site to stay for the field season. Sunday was yet another trip for me from Caracol to the Belize airport to pick up the five students (Benjamin Bonner, Brooke Barteaux, Jessica Turner, Kelsey Sullivan, and Olyvia Johns) who would be spending the field season at the site; after a quick lunch at Cheers, we drove straight to the site, arriving ca. 4:30 in the afternoon; everyone set up their bedding in huts 2 and 3 for their first night at the site. All is now prepped to begin excavation.

Caracol Kitchen with UNLV pendent

 

George Thompson with caretakers and Angie in kitchen during set-up

 

Men’s hut with beds – and showing its age

 

Brian Woodye in front of staff huts

 

Laying out the Caana excavation area at the summit

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