by Sharon Hiebing | January 24th, 2012
As if Maya 2012 wasn’t enough fodder to draw attention to the Cayo District of Belize this year, what all of us locals and tourists alike woke up to yesterday morning was something most of us will never, ever forget! As I turned on my computer yesterday morning, I found this blog on Facebook:
http://instituteofarchaeologynich.blogspot.com/2012/01/who-says-we-get-day-off-burns-avenus.html
Here's a piece of one of the vessels that has been found.
Say what! Artifacts had been found on Burns Avenue, San Ignacio Town’s version of Main Street. For the last several days, Burns Avenue has been closed as they were repairing the drainage pipes. In fact, I was watching them do it on Friday when we went to Flayva’s for our TGIF Meetup.
You could see all of the findings on the edge of the dig site, being carefully packaged and labeled.
Understanding the historic significance of an event like this, and wanting to get the scoop for all of you, Nige and I headed downtown to see what we could find out.
The crowds surrounding the dig site and bulldozer were pretty large!
Understandably, there was quite a big crowd surrounding the now designated “dig site!” The bulldozer that uncovered this major find still stood where it was when the repairmen were officially halted from any further duty.
We weren't the only ones who decided to watch the view from the Mayawalk Restaurant.
Nige and I decided to have lunch at the Mayawalk Restaurant, which is right in front of the dig site, and offered a great view of the going’s on. Soon enough, Dr. Jamie Awe appeared. According to Nige, he is very well-known in these parts, having supervised many findings and digs in the past. He was on the phone for quite a bit, apparently giving an interview (one of many, I’m sure). He was commenting on what they had found so far – shells, mussels, and many vessels, all from the pre-classic period, about 2000 years ago!
Dr. Awe, giving a phone interview.
Pretty soon, rumors started flying that skeletal remains had been found, and that “he” was sitting up. Wanting to get to the bottom of this, I sauntered over and spoke to Ms. Sherry Gibbs of Galen University, from her position in the hole.
Ms. Sherry Gibbs, from Galen University, had the help of many current and past students.
I asked her if she could confirm that it was indeed male remains, and she said from the size and shape of the pelvic bone, it appeared that yes, it was. Wow! She said it appeared he was either sitting or “flexed.”
Excellent view of the human remains.
I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure that's the pelvis in question.
Later that night, however, when Nige returned (I was too tired), they were now saying that he was in a fetal position, more than likely how he was buried. They also were finding Cinnabark over the remains, something that was used in ancient burial rituals, according to Dr. Awe, because of its orange color, which is similar in color to the sun, and the ancient ancestors felt it would promote the spirit rising as well.
Dr. Awe again, so generous with his time, talking to anyone who had questions!
The most exciting moment for Nige (who was born and raised in San Ignacio, by the way) came when the bulldozer was being moved away from the area. All of the sudden, someone noticed that there was still dirt in its possession, so it was made to stop and empty its load.
Ms. Gibbs holding the femur that almost got away!
Another view of the recovered femur.
Good thing, because once they started sifting through that very same dirt, they found a femur (leg bone) and some other remains. What a loss that would have been.
An amazing display of teamwork went on yesterday, and will continue today as well.
All in all, an amazing day. One that none of us who were lucky enough to have been a part of it will ever forget.
You can read the Institute of Archeology’s latest blog today here: http://instituteofarchaeologynich.blogspot.com/2012/01/who-says-we-get-day-off-burns-avenus.html
Have you ever felt like you’ve been a part of history in the making?
