The dig at Puerto Escondido

Excavations in the lower Ulúa river valley of northwestern Hondurasby archaeologists from Cornell University and the University of California at Berkeley, under the auspices of the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History, have added at least 1,000 years to the documented story of a region where a hunting-and-gathering society settled and skilled pottery-makers flourished. Here are some scenes from the dig.
All photos copyright © 1998 by John Henderson

Graduate students Jeanne Lopiparo, UC Berkeley and Patrick Miller, SUNY-Buffalo) excavating a late burial at Puerto Escondido. The body was buried outside a house occupied about 500 AD (1000 years after the Olmec period). Photo by John Henderson.

Deep excavations at Puerto Escondido. A Honduran workman is excavating Olmec-period (approximately 1100-900 BC) remains. Deeper deposits visible in the pit on the left represent pre-Olmec history of the village, going back to approximately 2000 BC. Photo by John Henderson.

An intact jar buried as an offering at Puerto Escondido about 900 BC, when large Olmec buildings in the center of the community were razed and covered by a late Olmec platform that may have supported even larger public buildings. Photo by John Henderson.

Jeanne Lopiparo, a graduate student at UC Berkeley, and a Honduran workman excavating remains of a late house at Puerto Escondido. The house was occupied about 500 AD, 1000 years after the Olmec period. Photo by Laura Merwin.

A wider view of excavations at Puerto Escondido. Dr. Julia Hendon of Gettysburg College stands in pit at the level of a pre-Olmec village occupied about 1300 BC. Photo by John Henderson.

Another view of the excavations. The school bus in the background contracted to transport archaeologists, workmen and equipment to and from the site each day. Photo by John Henderson.

Christopher Hyde, a grad student at Southern Illinois University, supervises a Honduran workman digging through soil covering Olmec-period remains.. Photo by Laura Merwin.

Deep excavations at Puerto Escondido. The Honduran workman at the right is excavating Olmec-period (approximately 1100-900 BC) remains. Graduate student James Coil, UC Berkeley, in the pit at the left is recording deeper deposits that represent pre-Olmec history of the village going back to approximately 2000 BC. Photo by John Henderson.

| Return to the main story | | Cornell News Service front page |

	Graduate students Jeanne Lopiparo, UC Berkeley and Patrick Miller, SUNY-Buffalo) excavating a late burial at Puerto Escondido. The body was buried outside a house occupied about 500 AD (1000 years after the Olmec period). Photo by John Henderson.
	Deep excavations at Puerto Escondido. A Honduran workman is excavating Olmec-period (approximately 1100-900 BC) remains. Deeper deposits visible in the pit on the left represent pre-Olmec history of the village, going back to approximately 2000 BC. Photo by John Henderson.
	An intact jar buried as an offering at Puerto Escondido about 900 BC, when large Olmec buildings in the center of the community were razed and covered by a late Olmec platform that may have supported even larger public buildings. Photo by John Henderson.
	Jeanne Lopiparo, a graduate student at UC Berkeley, and a Honduran workman excavating remains of a late house at Puerto Escondido. The house was occupied about 500 AD, 1000 years after the Olmec period. Photo by Laura Merwin.
	A wider view of excavations at Puerto Escondido. Dr. Julia Hendon of Gettysburg College stands in pit at the level of a pre-Olmec village occupied about 1300 BC. Photo by John Henderson.
	Another view of the excavations. The school bus in the background contracted to transport archaeologists, workmen and equipment to and from the site each day. Photo by John Henderson.