Evangelia Tsesmeli Southern Methodist University

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Proyecto Arqueológico El Perú-Waka’

The Dynamic Landscape at El Perú-Waka’:

Visual and Temporal Representations

El Perú-Waka’, Flores, Paso Caballos and Tikal at

Northwestern Petén

Paso Caballos

Flores

2003-2006 Surveyed El Perú-Waka’

Plaza 2

Str. M12-32

Plaza 3

Plaza 4

Str. M13-1

NW Palatial Center

Plaza 6

Plaza 5

Mirador Group

Southeastern El Perú-Waka’

O14-2

O14-4

Estimated Extent of El Perú-Waka’ Site Core- Area ca. 2 km2

Structures

Sketched by Ian

Graham in 1978

Plaza 2

Plaza 1

Plaza 3

Plaza 4

M13-1

Excavation Units delineating corners

and staircase of Str. M12-32

Initial 3D

Reproduction of

Str. M12-32

Tentative Preliminary 3D Reconstruction of Str. M12-32

View from SW

Upper Tunnel

Lower Tunnel

Entrance

to the Lower Tunnel

View from SE

M12-32: Entrance, Lower and Upper Looters’ Tunnels

Profile from the South

Height of M12-32: 19m

All tunnels contribute to

destruction of 7.3%

of the structure’s volume.

Extensive conservation work

in order to prevent the

collapse of the structure.

Plaza 1

Str.M12-32

Str. M12-32 3D Preliminary Model:

Lower and Upper Looters’ Tunnels

View from the Top

Upper Tunnel

Lower Tunnel

N

Str. M12-32

Consolidation of

Lower Tunnel

Consolidated

Lower Tunnel

Looters’

Lower Tunnel

Looters’ Upper Tunnel

View from NE

A closer look at the

Consolidated Lower

Tunnel

Excavation Units

Plaza 3

Plaza 1

Waka’ GIS Structure

GIS Web Interface

Artifactual

Data

Survey

Data

Excavation Unit-

Operation

Data Researchers

Waka GIS

The Sample for Examining Temporal

Affiliation at El Peru-Waka’:

74 Test Excavation Units

(2003-2006)

Ceramic Density acting as proxy for

settlement activity and occupation

Absence of test excavation

units in the area introduces

bias in the spatial analysis of

temporality

Test Excavation Units

Periods Represented at

the Test Pit Sample

Excavated in 2003-2006

Late Preclassic

Terminal

Preclassic

Terminal

Preclassic to

Early Classic

Transition

Early Classic

Early Classic to

Late Classic

Late Classic

Late to Terminal

Classic

Terminal Classic

Spatio/Temporal

Occupation Shifts

Terminal Classic

Late Preclassic Terminal

Preclassic

Terminal Preclassic

To Early Classic Early Classic

Early to Late

Classic Late Classic

Late Classic to

Terminal Classic

Data from Test Excavation Units

Biased due to absence of units in the south

Thank You

Directors, Co-directors and team members

of the Proyecto Arqueológico El Perú-Waka’

My Survey Team of many workers

throughout the years, but mostly and

fondly to German Sincuir and

Jacinto Pop

My esteemed colleagues

Juan Carlos Melendez

Keith Eppich

For all omissions and errors I am solely responsible.