Excavations in 2001 and 2002:
Operations 1-9
In 2001, five test pits were excavated at Yo'okop. All of these test pits were in plaza areas, designed to recover ceramics from lots "sealed" by plaza floors. The ceramics and other artifacts recovered from the excavations will help us begin to explore the dates of plaza constructions, as well as the possible political ties and social interaction spheres of Yo'okop through time. All fill from the test pits was screened using 1/4" mesh and all artifacts recovered were labeled with their operation, level, and lot numbers. More details on the operations are available in the 2001 report.
Operation 1 (above) was a 2x2m test pit located in the plaza area where Sacbe 1 meets Group B. At left (north) in the photograph bedrock is seen emerging.
The above three photographs contain features in Operation 2, which was located in the plaza north of Group B's Structure N5W1-2. This 2x2m test pit encountered five flooring episodes, as well as three substructures.
Operation 3, another 2x2m excavation, was located in Group A, to the NW of Structure S4W1-1 (the "Castillo"). It was located in a depression which was hypothesized to have been a water storage area. No evidence of any special lining to enhance water retention was located, however.
Operation 4 (below left), a 1x2m pit, was located in Group D, in the plaza north of Structure N2W7-10. Two plaza flooring episodes were revealed in the excavation, which was carried on to bedrock. The last excavation of the season, Operation 5 (below right), was a 1x1m test pit located in Group A, just to the north of Structure S4E2-1, a large range structure facing the aguada. Also excavated to bedrock, Operation 5 only revealed one plaza flooring episode.
In 2002, we excavated and consolidated Structure S3E1-5, located next the the aguada. The structure is believed to be a sweatbath. Below are pictures before, during, and after excavation (Operation 6).
As you can see on the top and middle photo above, a large tree was growing in the center of the structure. It took nearly six weeks of work to carefully remove the tree and all of its roots. Below, Annie and the week six crew pose with the stump after they finally removed it.
The center of Structure S3E1-5's rear bench had originally contained a cache. However, this cache was looted in antiquity, prior to the collapse of the structure's vault. Below is a photograph of the excavated cache chamber.
Below are more photos of the Structure S3E1-5 excavation
In 2002, Operation 7 excavated a possible chultun (water storage feature) that turned out to be the base of a round Terminal Classic altar (below).
Operation 8 cut through eleven plaza floors in Group B's North Acropolis (below).
Operation 9 explored the plaza floor sequences near Group A's Structure S4W1-2.
Below are photographs of the stone, stucco, and shell artifacts recovered in 2001 and 2002. Ceramics are by far the most numerous artifacts at Yo'okop. The annual report available on the main research page contains detailed information on the quantity and type of ceramics found in each operation.
