So how many of you knew (or cared) that Tzakol ceramics are not an accurate marker for Early Classic settlement in the souther Peten? Juan Pedro Laporte has been doing extensive research throughout the southern and central Peten and has found that the ceramics typically associated with the Early Classic at most of the major sites in the Maya lowlands during this time period are only existant in ceremonial contexts. People were continuing to use earlier ceramics (Chicanel) throughout the Early Classic.

This really helps me out, as I've got a ton (many, many tons, actually) of Tzakol-sphere ceramics in my caves and basically none outside of them. Not that I have a whole lot of Chicanel either, but I do have significantly more of it than I have Tzakol.

It's going to be ceramic madness--after that I'm going to check out the collections from Tikal. For some reason that I still don't understand, there are no ceramics from Tikal in Guatemala City (except for a few in the museum basement), even in the ceramoteca, which houses a huge collection of sherds from pretty much every other site. Getting in to see the collection looks to be a bit difficult as well, as the only one who can arrange it is the director of cultural and natural patrimony.

Pequeno Juan (AKA Jon Spenard) is coming down to Guate today to spend a few weeks with his ceramics, and will be along for at least the first part of the trip. Maybe we can pop into Cayo for the day and have a few drinks at the Cenote for old time's sake. Or Palms 2000, but the last time I was there the place was robbed in front of me (although the thieves had the good graces to wait until after I'd finished singing karaoke to "Si no te hubieras ido").

This is going to be my last big trip before I finish my ceramic analysis in August (except for like 2 weeks in the field to fill in a few holes). Party time.