Baking Pot Codex Restoration Project, Belize

Discovery of Tomb 2, Baking Pot, Belize

The epicenter of Baking Pot is formed by two large architectural complexes (Groups 1 and 2) that are linked by a 200 meter long causeway (sacbe). Group 1 lies at the north end of the causeway and is comprised of three large courtyards enclosed by monumental architecture (Figure 1, below). Structure E, located in the central plaza (Plaza 2) of Group 1, consists of a tripartite structure that resembles an E-Group complex. The primary structure (Str. E central) is a 15 meters tall pyramid that is flanked to the north and south by two 6 meter high platforms (Str. E north and E south).

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Work commenced on Str. E in June of 2002. The first excavation was axially located at the summit of the mound, and measured 2m × 3m.  This unit was later extended 1.5 meters to the west, 1 meter to the east, and 2 meters to the south. The excavation revealed traces of a poorly preserved plaster surface, but no evidence of a masonry super structure. This suggests that in its final form the summit of Str. E had a small building platform that may, or may not, have supported a perishable superstructure. Due to erosion, bioturbation and structural collapse, it was impossible to determine the actual size of the building platform.

Excavation below the floor of the terminal phase platform penetrated several 4-6 cm thick layers of chert flakes that had been deposited above the capstones of two tombs. Both tombs were oriented north to south and were constructed of limestone blocks that were cemented together with lime plaster.

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