Life Unusual ...

Chasing the Dream

2011-09-15T17:22:00.001-07:00

I have been spending a lot of time at various tracks lately. It seems like every weekend I am either at Thunderhill Raceway, Infineon, up north at the Shasta Speedway, or over at Prairie City. If you are not local to Northern California, or at least not a racing fan you might not realize how much travel time this involves. Let’s just say that I have been keeping busy. When I first meet someone at the track they always ask what events I’m competing in, or what bike I ride. My friends ask a different question, they always ask me how Sarah’s doing. You see this is the real reason I spend so much time at the track. I’m not chasing my own dream; I’m helping someone else chase hers.

When I first met and fell in love with Sarah I told her that she could accomplish anything she wanted, and that she would go as far as her vision would take her. I just never thought that those dreams would involve motorcycle racing or motorcycles of any sort for that matter. Four years ago we bought two retro styled Triumph Bonnevilles. While I enjoy riding and am relatively accomp-lished, Sarah took to the bikes like a duck to water. Our love for motorcycles evolved as we moved on to faster, more powerful bikes. Sarah bought a Ducati 696 and then traded that for a Daytona 675. During this time she also moved off road and into the dirt. Every once and awhile we would do a track day and Sarah started talking about racing. I admit that I did not really take here seriously, but she stuck to her guns and started to race.

She started Racing Supermoto last year, added in a few off road races in the winter, and jumped into Road racing this year. Each style of racing demands a different skill set and Sarah sets out to conquer them all. Each time she has started out at the back of the pack, but quickly masters the technical details of riding a new bike. At this point she jumps ahead and quickly starts to challenge for the front of the pack. At first I thought her ability to quickly drop her times was due to a natural riding talent, but I now know that this is not enough. It is her drive, her love for the sport, and being willing to listen to those she considers mentors.

I am always amazed at how happy Sarah is at the track. She always seems to glow, and not simply from the heat exhaustion. It makes me smile to see how happy she is when she comes in from a good ride. Even Sarah’s disappointments and frustrations do not seem to hold her back. She takes them in stride and learns from her mistakes.

What does the future hold for us? I don’t know, but I am sure that it will involve motorcycles and the track. It will also involve me sitting on the sidelines rooting her on, sharing in her victories and supporting her in those times of disappointment.

Maybe the reason that I am not chasing my own dream is that I have already caught it, sharing the good times and the bad with a woman I love as she reaches for the stars.

Xibalaba, part 2

2011-06-26T05:41:00.000-07:00

As promised here are a few pictures to go with my previous post about exploring a previously undocumented cave in northern Belize.

Here I am making the the descent for the first time. Justin had already use our highly sophisticated climbing gear (a truck tow rope) and made it to the bottom. If you look closely hand and footholds cut by the ancient Maya can be seen on the to my left.

A rough boulder constructed wall can be seen in this picture. The maya would have used this to section off different areas of the cave system. This would have limited access and perhaps defined the cave into different levels of sacred space.

This wall is located at the end of the cave's first chamber. The second chamber lies beyond.

This is the approach to the last chamber that Justin and I explored. As you can see it was a bit of a tight squeeze getting thorough. Although there is an opening into a fourth chamber and a passage back up to the entrance we decided to call it a day here.

I will leave you with a fashion show. This is what all the adventurous cavers are wearing this season, camouflage bandana, and and full body covering. Actually there is a reason for this, despite the heat and humidity, we needed to cover up as much as possible. The cave is home to a colony of bats and guano, quite literally covers the floor. There was a danger of picking up several not so nice deseases that are carried by the bats. Luckily the cave was damp and we were careful not to kick up and dust. We came out alright, if you discount the yuck factor caused by being covered in guano.

The Bucket List…

2011-06-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

We all have a bucket list. Some people want to sip wine on the Champs de Elyse, others, want to go sky diving, or swim with sharks. As an archaeologist my list is a little different than most peoples. While it is true that all artifacts tell us something about the people and culture that we are studying, some artifacts are just cooler than others. I have always wanted to recover a whole intact vessel from one of my excavations.

Every year I find at least one whole vessel during the field season, by that I mean a vessel that is completely reconstructable. However, I have never discovered an intact vessel in the 10 years I have been a member off the Maya Research Program . This week I was able to check that item off of my list.

For the last two seasons I have known that one of the structures on the courtyard that I have been excavation was an ancestral shrine. Its placement within the group as well as its overall shape made it clear to me that this structure functioned as a memorial. For one reason or another I have been unable to actually excavate it until this year. This season I vowed to make the time and start on it first thing.

From the beginning of the work it was clear that this structure had been purpose built to mark something important. The structure was designed as a solid cored structure and was never intended to have a livable interior space. In addition the top tier was really too small to support a perishable superstructure. He evidence only mounted as the excavation continued. On an interior floor level I found a group of 10 stones carefully placed against the interior wall. This was a marked difference from the normal boulder fill that I had already encountered. As it turned out these stones marked the location of a tomb. I just had to dig a little deeper.

Below the floor I found the capstones of what turned out to be a poorly constructed tomb. There were no finely cut stones or plaster on the walls , but it was a large open space, approximately 185 cm long by 35 cm deep, and 45 cm high.

Inside I found what I had been hoping for, an intact plate. In the past I havef ound several whole vessels, in this case “whole” means completely reconstructable, but I have never found an intact vessel until now. Guess I can put another check next to an item on my list. The plate dates to the Terminal Late Preclassic or the beginning of the Early Classic period. Along with the plate I discovered four pieces of jade, two beads and two ear spools. The ear spools were a surprise, I have never come across this type of artifact before. Another surprise is that the spools were inscribed, turning them into the Kin sign or representation of the sun or perhaps a dedication to the sun god Kinich Ahau.

A Trip to Xibalba

2011-06-04T14:53:00.001-07:00

It all started with an innocent question on Wednesday morning. “Do you want to go see a cave?”

Justin Telepack was the local store picking up some much-needed camp supplies when he fielded this question. After a moment to reflect Justin gave his answer, “Heck, yes”. Actually Justin might have phrased his answer a little differently, but this is a family oriented blog.

Fast forward to Sunday, Justin was just getting in the truck for a much needed ceviche break in Mexico and I was settling down to do some writing when the phone rang, “You guys still want to go to the cave?” Justin immediately forgot his craving for a large plate of shrimp and a cold Modelo, while I pried myself away from the joys of paper work. Thus began our Sunday adventure.

Location: Somewhere in northwest Belize…

Alvin pulled his jeep over to the side of the dirt road, “The cave is only a short walk away.” He told us, “Just inside the tree line.”

We started towards the hill. It was well over a 100° and the trail was starting to get steep. I wondered if this was another wild goose chase as I checked the level in my water bottle. The trail ended and we started to work our way through the jungle. As I neared the top Justin called out, “Damn Tim, you’ve got to see this.” Quickening my pace I reached an opening in the side of the hill. It was over six feet in height and as I looked down I could see that we really would have rappel about 20 feet down to reach the bottom, that is if we had rappelling gear. I mused the thought of miscellaneous broken bones as I watched Alvin tie a towrope around a tree root. Oh well, I shrugged mentally; if I let every dangerous situation slow me down I would have to find another line of work.

This was not a little dinky hole in the side of a hill. The first chamber is about 20 feet in diameter and soars to around 30 feet in height. At the end of the chamber the ancient Maya had built a low stone wall out of uncut boulders, this separated the first chamber from the second. After climbing over the wall we entered a second chamber. It was lower, but there was even more cultural material. Cultural Material? did I mention that the floor of each of the chambers was covered in Maya ceramics. Broken sherds were everywhere , they ranged in dates from the Late Preclassic (250 BC) to the Late Classic ((800 AD or so), and these were only the pots that we could see. Who knows what is under the all that bat guano. This chamber sloped down to a narrow opening.

It was a tight squeeze, but both Justin and I made it to the third chamber. This was only tall enough to crouch in. A small opening at the end of the room hinted at further wonders yet to be revealed, but we decided to call it a day at this point.

We will be back with proper equipment, more powerful lights, respirators, and mapping gear. I'll post photos when they become available.

So what did you do on your day off?

Excavation Update

2011-05-29T08:55:00.000-07:00

The first week of the Maya Research Program's field season is past and everything is moving forward. Most of the staff arrived a week before excavations began. Every year we expect there to be a lot of work to get the camp up and running, but for the last few years everything has come together with a minimum of bother. This year was no exception. Within a few days everything was ship shape and everyone was able to to go on an excursion to a nearby site that we have been considering excavating for several years.

Bill Brown explores a looters trench at El Posito

The site of El Posito is located about 10 Km from our main excavations at Blue Creek. It is composed of several large monumental buildings an many more small structures. While there has been some looting on the site, the majority of the structures are unimpacted. Of particular intrest to our program is what El Posito can tell us about transformations in the Maya culture at the end on the Classic Period.

An important part of archaeology is documenting the different phases of excavations.

This year I am planing on wrapping up excavations I have been working on for the past two seasons. The site is a large courtyard group consisting of five main structure arrange in a square, with up to 8 additional structures located directly outside of the courtyard. During the previous two field seasons I have stripped the overburden and collapsed debris from in font of the courtyard structures as well as excavating inside several of the well preserved masonry rooms.

This season I plan on completing excavations. There are two main areas that I am interested in. The first is a medium sized building that I believe to be an ancestral shrine. In order to confirm this I will need to completely excavated the interior of this solid cored structure and then penetrated beneath the floor level. If I am correct then there we will find either a brial of a ritual cache buried beneath the structure. During the first several days of excavations we have been able to get down to the platform level. Next week we will be exploring under the floor. Hopefully we will have some exciting news next week.

The second area that I am interested in is defining the shape and purpose of the last unexcavated structure on the courtyard. Unfortunately, this building has been heavily impacted by the intrusion of tree roots. This has made it surprising difficult to define the underlying architecture. I have been forced to come in at the structure from several angels, looking for intact walls. After several days of systematic excavations I was able to locate some minimally impacted walls. This should enable further excavations to procede at a faster rate.

The High Temple at Lamanai

Today is our day of rest. Most of the volunteers have left for a day trip the reconstructed site of Lamanai. It will be a day of exploring the archaeological park, swimming in the Belize's New River Lagoon, and hanging out at the Lamanai Outpost lodge. I am taking the opportunity of a day out of the field to catch up on some paper work and start writing a few papers.

One of the of the less glamourous aspects of archaeology is recording everything we find during excavations. Everyone imagines scenes of the intrepid archaeologist hacking their way through the jungle before appearing in front of a lost temple. While this is a true vision of what I do during the week, much of my off time is dedicated to recording everything that I have excavated. Examining artifacts, and working on papers.

Speaking of which it is time that I got back to work.

Stay tuned for further adventures in archaeology!

SP Rocket Girl Racing

2011-04-13T13:50:00.000-07:00

sprocketgirlracing.com is now online. This website is dedicated to the racing career of Sarah Preston, who just happens to be my wife. While the site is still a work in progress we do have to basic bones up and running. You will be able to find information about Sarah's racing career pictures, and a growing video collection.

This year Sarah will be competing in three disciplines: AFM road racing, supermoto, and off road enduro races.

All of her friends wish her the best of luck in this new endeavorer.

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Field Gear, Part 3 -- What is in the bag?

2011-04-12T11:21:00.000-07:00

I usually carry a huge tool bag and a separate back pack into the field every day. By the end of last season it got so bad that people stated calling it my Mary Poppins bag, because I could pull out anything that I might conceivably need. Of course I usually oversee fairly large excavations with more than 10 students and volunteers working on varied types of excavations. I feel the need to be prepared for anything. Its a long way back to camp if I need something. Most people really don't need to carry much into the field. I have put together a streamlined field pack that should get anyone through the day. I have also included some optional items that I feel anyone who is serious about archaeology should carry with them.

I like Camelbak's line of packs.

If you are a volunteer on most projects most of your tools should be provided for you. If you are joining us at the Maya Research Program all that you really need to bring into the field are personal comfort items. Everything you need should fit comfortably into a regular day pack or messenger bag, so lets start there. Your pack should be sturdy and comfortable. You should think about carrying 10 lbs for a one mile hike. Many people like to use integrated hydration packs like those offered by Camelbak. I like the hydration systems if I am going to be hiking for a long time, however water bottles work just fine when I plan on staying at a site all day. If you are getting watter bottles look for something that is PBA free. Metal bottles are nice, but they can get really hot in direct sunlight.

Other Items that I recommend Include rain gear, a hat, disinfectant gel, insect repellent, sunblock, and snacks. There really is not any particular brands on any of these items. They are all pretty much the same. If you are going to be getting Deet look for a high concentration formula, 30% or better. I try to stay away from Deet when possible, but some times there is no getting away from it. High concentration formulas go for sunblock as well, SPF 45. Sun damage is no joke. Everyone likes a nice tan, its just not health to get too much sun. As for snacks look for something that has protein and fat along with sugar. PowerBars will keep you going longer than that bar of chocolate.

Leatherman Wave

The one tool that I thing everyone should carry into the field is a good lock blade pocket knife or multitool. Leatherman makes a good product. It is true that you will probably never use all the options included in a product such as the Wave, I have used a fair number of them in the field. The pliers are particularly good for removing thorns.

I spend a lot of time in the jungle, so in addition to a Leatherman I usually carry a larger fixed blade knife, and of course a machete. These are not things that I recommend to the average volunteer on an archaeology project, and they would be impracticable in other environments. For myself, they make sense.

Other items that a volunteer should consider packing for a day in the field include a camera, digital or film, notebook, pen. and a small personal first-aid kit. There are two other items that I try to always carry with me. Many people think I'm crazy, but these items have come in handy on more than one occasion; a dry pair of socks and a spare t-shirt. I keep both of these packed away in a sealed ziplock bag.

That covers the basic items that should get someone who is volunteering on a project through the day. Of course my default gear bag is a little bit heavier. What does my minimum pack include? The gear in my bag can be split up into three categories: excavation tools, mapping materials and recording instruments.

Every day I go into the field with my basic excavation kit. This includes my trowel (see my previous post on trowel recommendations), my trusty Japanese hand mattock, and my small tool kit. Everyone thinks the hand mattock is a little strange until they borrow it. I have used a number of picks that are specially designed for archaeology, but this tool beats them all. I also carry a small tool kit that contains both metal as well as wooden tools. Dental tools can readily be found on the internet. They are perfect for detail work, but they can scratch fragile items. Wooden clay modeling tools are a good alternative along with bamboo skewers and chopsticks.

Another tool that I really like is is Marshalltown's ornamental plastering trowel. They have several shapes and sizes to choose from. These tools can be thought of as mini trowels. They are hard to find, but once you use one they become absolutely essential for any detail work.

My Mapping kit includes a Brutton pocket transit, tripod, hand compass, string, plumb bob, line level, scale ruler, 2 metric measuring tapes, a 30 meter tape, metric ruled graph paper and lots of pencils and erasers. While primitive by some standards, I have found that most of my mapping can be completed without the aid of total stations or any other high-tech tool.

The kit I use for finds on site is also fairly straight forward. I always carry a notebook, digital camera, pencils, a photo board, north arrow and photographic scales. I also like to have a clipboard as well as a good supply of lot forms. This will let me take all of the information that I need, before returning to camp. Artifacts are collected into ziplock bags and labeled with a Sharpie.

That is my basic excavation kit, nothing too exotic. The problem is that every piece of equipment that you take into the field adds a little weight. By the end of the season I feel like I am carrying half of the camp on my back. I always try to cut back the amount of stuff in my pack, but It always gets added back in at a latter date.

Gear Report, Part 2 -- The Trowel

2011-04-11T14:52:00.000-07:00

Typical pointing trowel from Lowes

The humble pointing trowel is probably the single most indispensable piece of equipment that an archaeologist can own. They can be found at any hardware store around the world only cost a few dollars. Any brand will get the job done, but that does not mean that they are all created equal. Here are a few things that you should look for when buying your first trowel.

The first is size. I prefer a trowel with a blade length between 4.5 and 5.5 inches. This is large enough to move a significant amount of dirt, but small enough to still do detail work. These days I stick with the 4.5 inch models, however they are rare in hardware stores. You usually have to order them online.

Check to see how the handle is joined to the blade. Make sure that it is welded and riveted. Riveted connections tend to break at a much higher rate than ones that are welded.

My last suggestion has to do with comfort. You want a trowel that feels comfortable in your hand. Some people like the rubber coated handles, they have a better grip and a little cushion. Personally I prefer the classic wooden handle. I don't know why, maybe it is just what I am used to.

Mashalltown Philadelphia trowel

Now let us take look at some trowels that are specifically designed for archaeology work. In the United States the ubiquitous trowel is made by Marshalltown. This was the fist trowel that I owned and I still have one in my kit. While it is good for light work, and well suited for southwest archaeology, I find that it is not study enough for my work in Belize. I have seen quite a few of these trowels broken and I have done it myself more than once. A nice addition to Marshalltowns line is the matching holsters. This accessory will definitely cut down on the number of holes in your pants pockets.

Marshalltown now makes a more sturdy "London" version. It is modeled after the WHS line of leaf shaped archaeology trowels. However, my feeling is go with the original not the copy.

WHS Leaf Trowel

By far my favorite trowel is made by WHS. I feel that this tool is superior in a few ways. Right off the bat, it feels more comfortable in the hand. It also has a smaller 4 inch blade that is perfect for detail work. Who needs to pull out the small tools when you can excavate an entire burial with your trowel? The WHS is also much more sturdy. I have never broken one and only seen it happen once.

The only problem with this tool is that it is not readily available in the United states. It has to be ordered from Britain and consequently costs a lot more. Why do I like this trowel so much? Maybe its the romantic in me, or that I first learned my trade from an itinerant Irish archaeologist, or because my current trowel was given to me by a dear friend, or just maybe because it is made so well, but what ever the reason this is always the first tool I reach for.

Battiferro Archaeology Trowel

There is a new kid on the block, or at least new to me. Battiferro is an Italian company that produces a solid product. I started using this trowel last year and I have been very happy with it. This I won't be replacing my beloved WHS with a "Batti" anytime soon, but it runs a close second. Construction of the two tools is similar, and I don't see either breaking. Two things that the Batti has going for it is the brightly colored handle, mine is orange, and a sharpened edge for cutting through small roots. The bright handle is a great benefit in the jungle where I am forever loosing my tools. The sharp edge helps with some small roots but it is designed for the turf that is found in Europe. When confronted with roots I usually reach for my machete not my trowel.

Both of these tools can be found with my friends at Past Horizons. Another good source for European tools is Archtools. Next up, the 20 lbs of miscellaneous stuff that I lug out to the field every day, and a pack to put them in. Don't worry, I'll only hit the most important.

Field Gear, Part 1 -- Boots and Clothing

2011-04-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

The 2011 field season will be starting in about a month and that means it is time to start getting my gear together. Over the years I have experimented with various pieces of equipment, clothes, gear gags, notebooks, etc and have posted my feelings about their quality and utility in various places around the web. Most of my equipment suggestions can be found at the Maya Research Program's Facebook page. I this year I have decided to start fresh and actually review some of my favorite pieces of gear.

I thought that I would start out this series by taking a look at the clothes I wear into the field. In my opinion good quality and functional clothes and boots are the most important pieces of gear that you can buy. If I am uncomfortable in the field it is hard to get any work done. I work in the jungles of Central America so my choices are tailored for that environment, however many of my suggestions will apply to other locations as well.

A good pair of boots is probably the best investment you can make; uncomfortable, wet footwear, filled with dirt and pebbles is not a fun way to spend the day. When I first went into the field I favored good quality hiking boots. I thought that if they could keep my feet happy on a long hike, they would equally well in the field. To my surprise this was not the case. The open tongue construction favored by boot manufacturers may increase comfort on long hikes, but it does nothing to keep excavated dirt out of the boots. In addition the low rise of most hiking boots leads to wet feet in heavy rainstorms, or when you step into a puddle that is a little deeper than expected.

These days I favor A military style boot. They usually have an eight inch rise and a gusseted tongue, both of which help to keep water and debris out of the boot. I have tried several brands. My current favorite is the waterproof Warrior Wear boots from Blackhawk. I have used these boots for two seasons and I am very happy with them. My feet stay comfortable and dry in all but the harshest weather.

These boots are completely waterprooof and offer great arch and ankle support. An added bonus is their comfort. These boots feel more like athletic shoes than combat boots. I can actually run in them, something that is impossible with hiking boots.

Next to my boots I feel that good clothes are the most important gear you can own. I used to excavate wearing shorts and a tank top. Of course that was when I was young and not concerned with the amount of damage the sun can do to ones skin. I dress a little differently now. For the upper body I always wear a light weight long sleeved shirt. The long sleeves provide protection from the sun, thorns and insects. The shirt doesn't have to be expensive. Just make sure it breathes well. Light colors are preferable both because they reflect heat and also because mosquitoes seem to be attracted to dark colors.

I am particular about my excavation pants. Once again I am back to the military theme. For several years I have been wearing the same military BDU pants in the field. Why do I like mil spec (US Military Standard) clothing? the simple reason is that it is well made, stands up to all the punishment I can give it, and lasts for years and are inexpensive. For my money, and that is what I am spending, the best manufacturer is Propper. They come in a variety of fabrics and colors. and can be found in various places around the web. I get the ones made in Poly / Cotton Ripstop. The ripstop really works. After several seasons of hard excavations and survey work, all my pants are still rip free. As for color, I stay away from anything that looks too military and definitely no camouflage patterns. I am not in the military and do not want to give the wrong impression.

That covers the basics. I also alway carry a good quality poncho. I think that they are better than raincoats for my environment and they can double as a ground cover if needed. This year I am thinking about investing in a mosquito suit and head net. I know they look a little funny, but the suit does seem to work. I am willing to try anything that might cut down on my use of Deet.

Tomorrow its all about the one piece of equipment an archaeologist can't be seen without, the trowel.

Anthropology is a Science

2010-12-28T16:20:00.001-08:00

There has been a lot of controversy lately over the status of anthropology as a science. Recently the American Anthropology Association removed the word "science" from their mission statement. This has angered many researchers and reopened the long standing debate between adherents of scientific anthropology, mainly archaeologists and biological anthropologists, and social anthropologists.

It has been pointed out that most anthropological investigations are non-repeatable and thus violate one of the main tenets of the Scientific Method. While this is indeed true the same can be said for many of he other biological science. When one works and studies living systems it is often difficult to replicate every condition.

While it is true that I can never excavate the same structure twice, I do not feel that this means that I do not practice science. People live, work, and grow within the confines of a system, an incredibly complex system to be sure, but one that can be observed and quantified. Hypothesis can be formed from those observations and tested through further excavations. In turn these hypothesis can be applied to other social groups, cities and civilizations.

This is the basis of science. Formulating a hypothesis as he result of observations, testing the hypothesis, and then either accepting or rejecting it. I do practice science and will cling to that appellation of my discipline regardless of what others might say.

Fresh ink Wednesday

2010-10-20T21:11:00.001-07:00

Well I've just spent the last few hours flat on my stomach with a needle in my arm. It's not as bad as you deviants are thinking, I just spent some quality time with my friends at the Skin Gallery in Healdsburg.

I have wanted to finish up the work on my left forearm for a while. Joining up with my trowel, jade jaguar, and numerous skulls, there is now a compass, machete, even more skulls, and a toucan (the national bird of Belize).

Color gets added in two weeks. Ill end thus with a picture of Sarah's last ink. The image is rotated 180* if for clarity.

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I need a little more room.

2010-10-16T10:36:00.001-07:00

Ok, this whole motorcycle fetish is getting a little out of hand. Next up will probably two dedicated off road bikes. I think I'm going to need a bigger garage.

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New Toy

2010-10-16T09:25:00.001-07:00

I have finally been able to spend a few hours flogging my new toy around the track, first in Stockton and then up at Infineon. The bike had a few simple mechanical problems when in the beginning, mostly related to old gas in the system, but everything is working well now.

For those of you who are mechanically inclined the moto is a KTM 450 SMR. Basically it is an off road motorcycle that was purposely modified at the factory to run and compete on supermoto tracks.

While Sarah is the racer in the family, I just love that I can take this bike out and rip around the track all day, the fact that I look good in racing leathers doesn't hurt either.

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Ink Blot Test for an Archaeologist

2010-10-06T14:34:00.000-07:00

Mystery Picture (Full Size)

I am back at the grindstone, trying, unsuccessfully, to get some work for the Maya Research Project. Life was much more simple in the old days. Dr Jones, would spend his summers in far flung locations around the globe, rescuing priceless treasure from evil Nazis. At the end of the day he would drop of his latest paperweight at the nearest museum, and then that was that.

Today things are a little different. We are expected to write reports! Reports, articles, manuscripts, book chapters...publish or perish...I long for the old days.
Anyway here I am sitting at my desk, pretending to write about the 2010 field season, and I came across a file from this summer. Does anyone out there recognize what this is a picture of or where it came from? If not, take a look at the labeled version below.

Laser Scan Of Chum Balam-nal Courtyard

This is a test render from the laser scanning done this past year by Bob Warden and those fine folks from Texas A&M. I know that it is a little difficult to make out some of the details, but most of the buildings are there. By the way, north is to the left of the screen.

Excavation Map

2010-09-28T11:37:00.001-07:00

Link to full size PDF of map

Sarah did well at the races and we had a great time hanging out with our friends, but the weekend is over and it's time to get back to work.

For me work means either teaching and course prep, which I love, or getting my ass in gear and writing about what we did this summer.

For those of you who have worked with me over the last two years, I am posting a first draft map of the Chum Balam-Nal courtyard. It is not complete, but close. The black lines represent areas the we have actually excavated and the red lines are what I thunk the courtyard once looked like. The area that is cross hatched represents destroyed walls that I know once existed.

I will post more as I get it done. Enjoy.

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Race Day part duex....

2010-09-26T12:06:00.001-07:00

Sarah tearing up the track in race heat 1.

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A day at the races.

2010-09-26T09:52:00.001-07:00

It's the start of another beautiful day here at Prairie City OHV. There is not a cloud in the sky and the mercury shouldn't climb much above 100*.

It is almost the end of the race season and everyone is looking forward to a great day of Supermoto fun.

Sarah's bike is tuned up and ready to go. New, stronger, brakes should really make a difference here.

The practice sessions are in full swing and we are just waiting for the heats to start.
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