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Mark Billings | profile | all galleries >> Belize tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Belize

Chan Chich Lodge & Archaeology
Belize, Central America

Maya sites are scattered throughout the forests surrounding Gallon Jug, including Chan Chich Lodge itself, which is situated, with the Archaeology Department's blessing, in the lower plaza of one. Most of these sites are not yet named and undoubtedly, there are many others waiting to be discovered. [text from chanchich.com]

Room
Restaurant
Bar
View of Cabana's from mound
Sreened Pool & Sauna
Lounge
photos above from ChanChich.com | Photo below from m.a.billings

*Sorry about the quality of the scans below. These pics were my pre-digital days*
Kevin (right), me (kneeling) and Penn State Field School students relaxing after a hard day of work. (Chan Chich Lodge, Belize )
Relaxing after work

Kevin (right), me (kneeling) and Penn State Field School students relaxing after a hard day of work. (Chan Chich Lodge, Belize )

 A picture of the back of my head next to a residence wall that we excavated. The stone you can see me lifting we hoped was a capstone that may hide a cache of goods beneath it. Turned out to be nothing but a cornerstone. If you look closely you can see the architecture of the walls.
Maya elite residence

A picture of the back of my head next to a residence wall that we excavated. The stone you can see me lifting we hoped was a "capstone" that may hide a cache of goods beneath it. Turned out to be nothing but a cornerstone. If you look closely you can see the architecture of the walls.

 This is the approach to the runway at Gallon Jug estates. We flew in on a little 3 seater from Belize City. The Chan Chich resort is about a 10 minute drive from the runway.
Runway @ Gallon Jug

This is the approach to the runway at Gallon Jug estates. We flew in on a little 3 seater from Belize City. The Chan Chich resort is about a 10 minute drive from the runway.

 Here is the plane we use to get in and out of Chan Chich. Flying out was a bit hairy with a storm that hit as we approached Belize City at the end of the field season.
transportation

Here is the plane we use to get in and out of Chan Chich. Flying out was a bit hairy with a storm that hit as we approached Belize City at the end of the field season.
This was an interior room of a Maya religious elite. Note the plaster floor, which is actually an elevated bench.
Maya Residence

This was an interior room of a Maya religious elite. Note the plaster floor, which is actually an elevated "bench".

 A view of the exterior walls which were at one time covered in plaster.
Residence

A view of the exterior walls which were at one time covered in plaster.

 Residence
Residence		 A view from atop one of the many unexcavated mounds that surround the lodge on the plaza floor. You can see one of the 12 cabanas at the bottom of the picture.
Chan Chich view

A view from atop one of the many unexcavated mounds that surround the lodge on the plaza floor. You can see one of the 12 cabanas at the bottom of the picture.
A photo of Brett (middle) and I with the staff of the Chan Chich lodge. It was sad to say goodbye after living and working there for the season.
Leaving

A photo of Brett (middle) and I with the staff of the Chan Chich lodge. It was sad to say goodbye after living and working there for the season.

 It's difficult to see in the picture but the wall under the mound is exposed at the top of the picture. The looters trenched directly into the mound with sticks.
Looter's Trench

It's difficult to see in the picture but the wall under the mound is exposed at the top of the picture. The looters trenched directly into the mound with sticks.

 bud-weis-er
Jungle life

bud-weis-er

 Jungle life
Jungle life
Frogs (twins?)
Frogs (twins?)		 Me in front of yet another looter's trench.
Looter's Trench

Me in front of yet another looter's trench.

 We spent some time riding around the Gallon Jug estate with our friend, Freddy.
Horseback

We spent some time riding around the Gallon Jug estate with our friend, Freddy.

 My wife, Tracey, was in Belize City on unrelated business the same time I was working at Chan Chich. She flew in for a weekend in a small plane full of vegetables for the lodge. We are both accomplished riders so we spent some time riding around the Gallon Jug estate. Here we are checking out coffee bean plants.
Horseback

My wife, Tracey, was in Belize City on unrelated business the same time I was working at Chan Chich. She flew in for a weekend in a small plane full of vegetables for the lodge. We are both accomplished riders so we spent some time riding around the Gallon Jug estate. Here we are checking out coffee bean plants.
Another jungle lodge view
Another jungle lodge view		 Typical jungle path
Typical jungle path		 Gallon Jug school (red roof)
Gallon Jug school

Gallon Jug school (red roof)

 Before heading into the jungle to work I spent a week on a small island off the coast of Belize called Caye Caulker. What a great little island to spend some quiet time on.
Caye Caulker

Before heading into the jungle to work I spent a week on a small island off the coast of Belize called Caye Caulker. What a great little island to spend some quiet time on.
Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker		 Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker		 Caye Caulker fisherman cleaning his catch to sell to the small, local restaurants.
Fisherman

Caye Caulker fisherman cleaning his catch to sell to the small, local restaurants.

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