Group 11K-6
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| Section through Structure 28 |
Until 2005 Group 11K-6, located in the El Bosque region of the
National Park, had never been excavated.
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| Excavations at 11K-6 |
In the late 1970s, Harvard University mapping and test pit research dug
one small pit into the main plaza, in an effort to understand the
settlement history of the Type 4 mound group there (in the "Harvard
Typology" Type 4 indicates the most monumental of architectural groups
in the Copan Valley). PAPAC began extensive and intensive excavations
at Group 11K-6 in January of 2005, focusing on the two plaza areas
associated with the largest mounds. Among these mounds is Structure 28,
on the west side of the main plaza, where Tomb 1 was found. In fact,
the entire building is the tomb, a point that can be best understood
with reference to
photos on this website.
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| Tomb 1 Chute |
PAPAC excavations have preliminarily revealed that prior to
approximately AD 600 there was no substantial settlement in this sector
of the valley. The area was a vast swamp until the growing population
forced a land reclamation project that led to the foundation of new
barrios or neighborhoods. As the focal point of the southwestern extent
of the El Bosque region, the settlement around Group 11K-6 represents
the principal sector of this new barrio. Following the birth of a new
urban ward, there were two major construction or renovation projects
resulting from dynastic plans for the integration of the growing city:
the first dates to the early part of the Late Classic period (i.e., 7th
century) and the second dates to the time of the final great king
(i.e., late 8th century). Tomb 1 and the first phase of building at
Structure 28 are associated with the 7th century renovations and
therefore offers us unprecedented evidence for political and social
power during the urban expansion in this sector of the valley.
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| Sectional Model of Tomb 1 |
The stone chute and capstones for Tomb 1 were discovered by Shannon
Plank and her lead excavator, Julio Garsa, in late March of 2005.
Plank, an assistant director of PAPAC, was supervising excavations of
Structures 27, 28, and 30 when she noted patterned fill in the
construction of the core of Structure 28.
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| Excavation Grid |
This turned out to be concentric rings of walls above and around what
we later learned was a vaulted subterranean chamber. These walls helped
to consolidate the fill and to place weight on the vault and its
sidewalls, also for purposes of consolidation and stability. The tomb
itself and the area associated with the atrium were excavated by Allan
Maca, Gregorio Perez, Francisco Fajardo, and Marcos Morales, beginning
in July of 2005. The final stages of excavation, including the
collection of pollen samples from the floor of the tomb, were completed
in August of 2006. Drawing and documentation have been ongoing since
then. Study of the bones has been undertaken by Katherine Miller of
Arizona State University. More information on the rigors of excavating
this tomb can be found in an entry of the
WEBLOG
section of this website.
Links
to additional resources on this website:
11K-6
Tomb Reconstructions
Photos
of the Tomb (album requires password)
El
Bosque excavation photos (album requires password)
11K-6
Tomb Chute and Vault Excavation (album requires password)
11K-6
Tomb Floor Excavation (album requires password)
11k-6
Tomb Artifacts (album requires password)
El
Bosque Maps (album requires password)
