Hi folks! We continued our excavations today, and even though we have been working for a day and a half, none of the units have finished digging their first level (10 centimeters down). Very slow work! Exciting nonetheless.
No pictures today, although I should really bring my camera to the site to take some pictures of our work for you. I'll definitely do that tomorrow!
For now, how about some more pictures from my trip through the tunnels? Forgive me, I don't remember all the details.
This is a set of pictures, with and without flash, of a stela that now lies on its side. I don't know how it ended up inside Structure 26. It may simply have been used to wall up an older structure in preparations for a newer one. I believe the text talks about Ruler 4, one of the lesser-known rulers of Copan. I mainly posted these so you could get a sense for how dark those tunnels really were--the flash is misleading!
No pictures today, although I should really bring my camera to the site to take some pictures of our work for you. I'll definitely do that tomorrow!
For now, how about some more pictures from my trip through the tunnels? Forgive me, I don't remember all the details.
This is a set of pictures, with and without flash, of a stela that now lies on its side. I don't know how it ended up inside Structure 26. It may simply have been used to wall up an older structure in preparations for a newer one. I believe the text talks about Ruler 4, one of the lesser-known rulers of Copan. I mainly posted these so you could get a sense for how dark those tunnels really were--the flash is misleading!
Here's a picture of Will inside Ruler 12's tomb.
Ruler 12 was the longest reigning ruler of Copan: he ruled for some 67 years! In fact, while most rulers depicted on Altar Q sit on their name glyphs, Ruler 12 sits on a glyph that reads 5 Katuns. He was greatly celebrated for entering the fifth Katun of his life, a Katun being a period of 7,200 days, or about 20 years. When he died, his successor Ruler 13 (also known as "18 Rabbit" or, more accurately, "18 are the Images of K'awiil") saw to it that Ruler 12 was properly honored. The first version of the Hieroglyphic Stairway (much shorter than the final version dedicated by Ruler 15) is inscribed as being the stairway which covers the tomb of Ruler 12. That's actually the only reason they knew whose tomb it was.
The tomb was also filled with effigies of the previous rulers and other valuable offerings. Bill was actually the one to excavate it. Apparently, when they uncovered it, they had to excavate each 10cm x 10cm x 10cm cube separately in order to preserve as much of the original context as possible. It took him and his team ten years to finish excavating the thing. Talk about tedious.
The tomb was also filled with effigies of the previous rulers and other valuable offerings. Bill was actually the one to excavate it. Apparently, when they uncovered it, they had to excavate each 10cm x 10cm x 10cm cube separately in order to preserve as much of the original context as possible. It took him and his team ten years to finish excavating the thing. Talk about tedious.
Well, I'm rambling now! I'll be sure to bring my camera along tomorrow. Maybe I'll catch a glimpse of the creepy centipedes for you. For now, sweet dreams!
No comments:
Post a Comment