May 10, 2004
Guatemala update

Back in civilization for a moment, after a week with archaeologist Charles Golden and his team in the Sierra del Lacandon, along the Usumacinta River. They are surveying new Maya sites along the frontier between the ancient cities of Yaxchilan and Piedras Negras.

Highlight of the week was a trek from the small site of Esmeralda to PN, 18 kilometers through a jaguar habitat (we saw tracks), led by guides who are ex-guerillas, now employed by Guatemala´s Sierra del Lacandon Park. At Piedras Negras we were welcomed by Stephen Houston and his crew, who have returned to the site after a couple of years´absence, to continue excavations. We spent the night at the El Porvenir guards´camp, which was a safe haven for our group of rafters last month, then hiked back the next day. Charles and his folks were to start a 3-day trek to the site of Tecolote, but I caught a boat upriver (not as young as those guys) and decide to continue back to Flores to rest and do some communications. I also caught a preview screening for Guatemalan folks of this week´s National Geographic Special on the Maya, which will air on PBS on the 12th.

I´m heading back in with the next group of park guards tomorrow, to see Tecolote and continue shooting a documentary on the river. Then I am on a homeward trajectory after a strenuous and satisfying journey.

Posted by Dave at May 10, 2004 07:40 PM