Proyecto Río Verde, 2003: Report on Excavations at Yugüe

Conclusions

The PRV03 excavations provided an enormous quantity of new information regarding Terminal Formative social organization. A number of preliminary observations can be made. First, there was greater complexity in the organization of this third-order site than was previously anticipated. The existence of two public ceremonial spaces at a 9.75 hectare site was unexpected prior to commencing the project. This complexity is reiterated by the diversity of burial goods in the Op. 1 burial areas. Individuals of differing status were interred at Yugüe. The burial practices of Yugüe offer a further insight into Terminal Formative Period social organization. Despite significant change in the regional political system, the pre-state pattern of communal burial in public spaces was continued into the era of statehood (Barber and Joyce 2003, Joyce 1991a, Joyce 1991b). In addition, feasting appears to have played a significant role in ancient ceremonial life at Yugüe. Both substructures at the Yugüe mound had evidence for Late Terminal Formative ceremony tied to food.

As a rescue archaeology project, the PRV03 Yugüe excavations were also highly successful. All of the excavated contexts were close to the modern ground surface and in areas where construction and disturbance are likely to continue. The Op. 1 midden had already been partially destroyed due to erosion. The Early Terminal Formative Period burials in Area C were less than a meter from the foundation of the modern chapel. The village plans to extend a portion of the chapel west to the area directly above those burials. This will probably destroy Feature 2, and would have destroyed the burials had they remained in situ. The Late Terminal Formative Period burial area was in an area of water runoff during the rainy season. The latest burials were only a few centimeters below the modern ground surface and would certainly have eroded to the surface in the near future.

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