February 28, 2004
From San Bartolo, Guatemala

UPDATE 2005:
Video from San Bartolo

I've been with Bill Saturno's team in San Bartolo for the last two weeks, as they started a new season of excavation, survey, and conservation of the astonishing murals that Bill found in 2001. This past week, the tunnels were dug to extend the access to the murals, which were buried by the Maya inside a larger pyramid around 100 BC. The age and sophistication of these paintings, showing creation myths from the Popol Vuh, are changing our conception of the "preClassic" age of Maya civilization.

I have the unusual privilege of documenting the entire project on video, using a small, 3-chip DV camera. Most documentary productions visit these sites for a week or less, and they usually arrive long after discoveries are made. Already this past week we have had glimpses of astounding new artwork on the latest wall to be revealed. The first conservator arrives tomorrow to begin protecting and stabilizing the mural as Bill uncovers it.

I will be posting brief updates, using the satellite uplink which was installed just two days ago. The dish installers looked a bit shaken up when they arrived in this jungle compound after dark. They slept overnight here in a spare tent, and got the dish working quickly the next morning. Right now I am connecting wirelessly to the Airport in the palm-thatched lab, which is connected to the DirecWay dish.

The generator is going off soon, so I will pick this up again later. From San Bartolo, Buena Noche!

Posted by Dave at February 28, 2004 10:22 PM