170 Field Museum of Natural History — Reports, Vol. X 



Jos^ is in the western part of British Honduras, near the Guatemalan 

 frontier. The 1931 excavations revealed pottery of a non-Maya 

 ceramic tradition, but yielded no information as to its position in a 

 definite ceramic sequence. The principal object of the 1934 Field 

 Museum-Carnegie Institution Joint Archaeological Expedition was 

 to unearth additional information that would definitely establish 

 this sequence, and perhaps shed light on the vexed question of the 

 correlation of the Maya calendar with the Gregorian. 



So far as the ceramic sequence is concerned, the objective was 

 attained, for the non-Maya pottery was found to occur during the 

 latest ceramic period. However, time has not yet been available 

 for an intensive study of the sherds to determine what light may 

 thereby be thrown on the correlation question. Preliminary 

 investigations of the sherds collected would indicate five periods. 



Among more spectacular finds was a unique ax, nearly ten inches 

 long, the head and haft of which were chipped from a single block of 

 obsidian. Associated with it was verdigris, all that remained of the 

 first metal objects ever found under archaeological conditions in 

 the southern Maya region. Both ax and copper remains had been 

 deposited, apparently, during the last ceramic period. This period 

 was also richest in trade pieces. 



The few stone buildings at San Jos^ had been erected in a late 

 period. Exterior sides of walls were faced with well-cut stone blocks, 

 whereas interior sides were covered with irregular blocks haphazardly 

 placed, the rough surfaces hidden by liberal coatings of plaster. 



Many burials were uncovered, and in almost every case the 

 skeleton was found lying on its side, in a flexed position, with head 

 toward the south. 



A new site, known locally as Mun Diego, was discovered south- 

 west of San Jos^ about four miles, as the crow flies, although the 

 circuitous route that had to be followed by the expedition was nearly 

 eleven miles long. Mun Diego, a somewhat larger site than San 

 Jos^, is equipped with a ball court, and around the various mounds 

 several plain stelae were found. Unusually large is the city's great 

 plaza, flanked on all four sides by mounds. There are also three 

 small sunken courts. 



The expedition remained in the field from February to May. 

 The share of the finds assigned to the Belize Estate and Produce 

 Company, owners of the land on which the ruins are situated, was 

 purchased for Field Museum by means of a special grant of $300 

 generously provided by the Carnegie Institution of Washington. 



