Ambergris Caye Belize Resort Development - Department of ...

Franco
The Franco site is located about 1 kilometer south of Valencia and very likely is
within the ABR property (see Fig. 9). The site was tested by Guderjan in 1987
and reported in the volume by Guderjan and Garber (1995). These authors
(Guderjan and Garber 1995:15) note that:
The Franco is situated about 300 m from the present beach on the
windward side. The site covers about 100x50 m. Test excavations
indicate that it is a black-dirt deposit with no formal architecture or
mounds. An ephemeral floor was found in the test unit. This feature
was very thin and badly disturbed to the degree that it was not
possible to follow the floor in a lateral excavation.
In the area of this test the deposit is about 80 cm thick. The
ceramics recovered from the site were porous, friable, and badly
eroded, dating to the Late Classic or Early Postclassic periods. Many
sherds had coarse sand tempering and were very poorly fired, which
would suggest they were locally manufactured. An adult male burial
was encountered with no associated grave goods. Based on the
cultural materials recovered the occupants of the Franco site could
best be characterized as impoverished. Even the shell tools were
poorly crafted.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Our survey of the ABR property indicates that this parcel of land is in close
proximity to two recorded archaeological settlements (the Ek Luum and Valencia
Sites) and that it likely encompasses the Franco Site. In view of the above we
recommend that if construction is planned for the area around the locality of
Franco, that this area should be mitigated prior to construction. Given the
ephemeral occupation of the Franco site this work could likely be accomplished
in a relatively short period of time (1 week).
Developments on other sections of the property should also be sensitive to the
presence of archaeological remains in the area. To address these concerns we
recommend that NEAC allows development of the property to proceed but with
the stipulation that the developer hires someone with past excavation experience
to observe all land clearing and excavation activities. This individual is not
required to have a university degree but should be someone with several years
experience on archaeological projects, and with official clearance from the
Institute of Archaeology. In Belize many workers with extensive archaeological
field experience can be found in the communities of San Jose Succotz, Benque
Viejo, Bullet Tree Falls and San Antonio in the Cayo District.
This assistant/observer only need be present during the early stages of
construction. He would be expected to observe preliminary land clearing
activities, and all excavations associated with such activities as the construction
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