We started week three with excellent weather and that was basically a sign that the week would be great. Much was needed to be completed, since last week it was all rainy days making it difficult to get survey done (see previous blog).

Third Week: excellent weather.

The good news for this week is that Shawn and Tawny saved the lives of two cute puppies that were in the middle of the road in Georgetown. These guys deserved to be applauded since they started their week doing good deeds. The bad news was that this week one of our local crew members was not able to make it so we quickly decided that every day one of the women working in the surveying team would go with Shawn to help him with the mapping. It wasn’t the first time mapping for some of the ladies but for those that had a first time mapping it was a great experience.

Shawn and Tawny moving the puppies from the road.

Lisa helping Shawn with the mapping of the epicenter.

On Tuesday a survey team member once again join Shawn in the Epicenter for mapping. The rest of the crew went ahead to finish survey in some of the final property blocks. In the afternoon Mr. Teul took us on a thirty minute hike into the surrounding mountainside to see an amazing waterfall and local granite bedrock. It was somewhat of a steep hike, but it was worth it! The water was so beautiful and the rocks were incredibly huge. It was a great midday trip after all with the SCRAP Crew and Mr. Teul.

Our short trip up the mountain with Mr. Teul.

Wednesday was basically one of the hottest days ever. We started survey of Block 1. We weren’t too excited since we were not finding much, except for some small artifact scatters and pieces of granite but not much else.

Thursday started quite well, although one of our survey team members was out sick. Then another survey team member had to call it quits and moved to the epicenter along with Lisa and Shawn to work on the mapping. The surveying crew was now just Meaghan and Jesucita: “The Last Ones Standing”. They managed to finish with the rest of Block 1 that morning and continue into Block E. The afternoon was full of surprises. Meaghan and Jesucita found their first ever Obsidian Tree! (Okay, well, not quite. Basically a LOT of obsidian blades caught up in the roots of an orchard tree.) The excitement was great. That afternoon was one of the most successful since the artifacts found were very interesting, informative, and amazing (you can learn about them in our final report to be released in January 2016).

One of many obsidian blades from the Obsidian Tree!

Friday was a normal lab day. The surveying crew stayed back to wash the artifacts that were found during the week, except for Meaghan who accompanied Shawn and the guys to the site in order to continue mapping.

Overall, Week 3 of SCRAP 2015 was a success and we are ready for our final week in the field!

Cheers from Belize!

Jesucita and Brittany