Saludos de Ascot

Queridos amigos en Bolivia,

Aqui estamos otra vez en Inglaterra. Era difficil acostumbrarnos; tanta gente en todos partes, tanto trafico y un cielo tan gris; para tres semanas casi no vimos el sol. Pero era lindo ver nuestra familia y amigos aqui. Hora los chicos estan en la escuela despues las vacaciones de verano. Pobre Laurenzo no pudo volver a su vieja escuela porque no tenia espacio y hora va a otra escuela con su bicicleta cada manana. Bonno esta sonando de volver a Bolivia y tocar una guitarra electrica (entonces no hay cambio). Mucho besos de nosotros aqui, Laurenzo, Bonno, Diura y Henry.

Las photos: el mar en Holanda, Lorenzo y su bicicleta, Bonno en la puerta.

Perdon no encontre las letras y acentos de Espagnol!

Thank you!

Many thanks to all of our team members of the Zudañez project! There were discomforts (hard matrasses, bumpy, dusty, bus rides, bed bugs, flees, showers that didn´t work, vegetarian chicken soup, 6 hour walks to nowhere, verticality and vertigo, and violent stomach upsets to name a few) but we have found it absolutely fantastic as well and wish we were still there! Many thanks, Edmundo & Diura

Amazing

Three weeks in Zudañez have flown past and it was amazing! We concentrated in the first place on the rock plateau of Calle Calle, where we mapped an early settlement (probably BC) protected by a system of defensive walls. As this was a first season exploration was an important part of our work. Guided by information from the local communities and Edmundo´s previous investigations we recorded an amazing number of sites from a range of periods (approximately 1600 BC-1500 AD). Surrounding an Inca storage site with about 35 round food stores, for example, we discovered three settlements of a range of dates providing an interesting link between local cultures and the Incas. A real highlight was to record the rock art of Kaka Pintashka; two panels of paintings on the face of a vertical rock. Although this site was known to archaeologists before, it had never been documented in any detail. We saw human figures, a possible Supay (Andean spirit of fecundity), abstract motives such as a wheel, Christian crosses and a Colonial horse. This site is highly inaccessible and we walked for an hour, then scrambled up the rock with the help of some steps carved into the slope by our Bolivian companions. The effort involved in getting there probably added to the whole experience, it was like entering a prehistoric cathedral!

On the photos: vertical archaeology, recording rock art and some of the finds.

Zudañez Project: Calle Calle

At 3.1 km the mountain plateau of Calle Calle towers above the village of Zudañez. The ascend is steep an takes about one hour by jeep across dirt tracks. The top of Calle Calle consists of irregular rock formations separated by deep clefts. Here the prehispanic inhabitants built their settlement, possibly to seek refuge from belligerent neighbouring tribes. On some boulders rock paintings can be seen, as previously noted by Edmundo Salinas, who has been a regular visitor to the area for about 20 years. Burials are found at the foot of the rocks and a large concave area might have functioned as a water reservoir. Although these features are visible to the naked eye and clearly belonged to an important settlement they have never been documented. In July, with a group of students from London and Groningen and with the help of Zudañez Municipality, we are hoping to make a start. We´ll be mapping the settlement and exploring its relationship to surrounding landscape features. It is highly likely that once we start combing through the bushy terrain and its rocky outcrops, we will discover so far unknown traces of human habitation, such as defence walls.

In our preparatory exploration we were unable to access a part of Calle Calle known for its mummy deposits due to the state of the track. We are hoping to take a group of volunteers there in July as part of a hiking and camping expedition to undertake the necessary recording.

On the photos: Edmundo and Diura, Calle Calle from above and below.

Zudañez Project (2)

Along the River Zudañez lies a complex of 35 Inca storage buildings. Although their existence has been known to the local population and Edmundo Salinas for many years the site has never been properly recorded. As we ventured out to confirm its location we came across a possible settlement, cemetery and prehispanic road, all previously unknown. The wealth of archaeological features is just astonishing! In July we plan to focus on one area, probably Calle Calle, while undertaking reconnaissance work in the surroundings. The project is a collaboration with Zudañez Municipality, who will participate in all aspects of the work. After thorough analysis all materials (this means bits of pot, not treasure!) will be returned to Zudañez to form the basis of a museum. This is the first large scale archaeological project in the Chuquisaca Province and a matter of considerable pride. During our preparatory visit we spoke to many people, such as Internet and ice cream providers as well as hospital workers, and they are all very excited about receiving their visitors. The weather in Zudañez at the moment is bright and sunny, cold in the evening and morning (and on windy mountain plateaus) but hot in the middle of the day.

The photos show the preparatory team including Edmundo and members from Zudañez Council, a prehispanic road and the foundations of an Inca storage building.

Spot the visitors (2)

On May the 12th my parents arrived. They loved staying in Sucre, visited many museums and made day trips for example to Potosi. As they were interested in getting to know Zudanez where the archaeological project in July will take place, we all went for an expedition. Some people, however, got very distracted with a cock fight taking place on the "Plaza" of Zudanez. My father put a bet on one of the animals, although no one knew which one it was. Both animals survived and it was a draw to the disappointment of many. Not all was lost as the owner of the cocks returned all funds invested. He did think that a reward for this act of generosity was appropriate and the two went for a couple of beers afterwards. The slopes of Zudanez had never seemed so slippery!

Hooray he is eight!

Laurence celebrated a very special birthday around May the 13th. His grandparents from Holland arrived the day before and we all enjoyed a special meal in a beautiful orchard. All his friends from school were invited to his party, in which we danced and played games. Particularly successful was pass-the-parcel, which was a novelty here. Laurence is now the proud owner of a beautiful aquarium with a variety of little fishes. He really wanted something bigger and more cuddly, like a puppy. His parents, however, insisted that he should practice looking after an animal, after having had the experience of the guinea pigs being rejected after two weeks. If the fish survive we might move on to something bigger! His very favourite toy remains the game boy and he njoys looking after his very cute virtual pets.