Component One: Site management and conservation of earthen architecture at Joya de Cerén, El Salvador
The earthen buildings of Joya de Cerén, discovered by accident in 1976, are believed to have been buried in the sixth century by a volcanic eruption. Excavated by archaeologist from the University of Colorado at Boulder between 1989 and 1994, the site has yielded numerous objects, including ceramics and tools, as well as a wealth of information about Maya agricultural practices, and social and spatial organization. To date, eleven of the eighteen identified structures have been uncovered. Joya de Cerén is considered of prime importance to advancing our knowledge of day-to-day life in Mesoamerica at the time of the Classic Maya period.

Site Management

Since 1999, the GCI has worked with the Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y la Arte (Concultura) to implement a management process for Joya de Cerén which addresses the complex and related issues of the site's conservation, the legitimate expectations of the surrounding communities for development, and the impact of the natural environment.

Using a participatory and value-driven management planning process the GCI and Concultura sought to develop a management plan that could serve as a model for other sites in El Salvador and the region, and which could support Salvadoran national conservation policies for archeological site management.

Preliminary activities included sharing the management process with a multidisciplinary group of technicians from Concultura, and adapting the process to the specific context of the site and country. Time was also dedicated to defining appropriate tools and to establishing working mechanisms with other institutions and stakeholders.

Throughout the management process's implementation, care was taken to ensure participation of all stakeholders during each step of the planning process—documentation, assessment, and elaboration of the program and projects for the plan, as well as establishment of the site's significance. To achieve this, the project team held meetings with local individuals, professionals and organizations. It developed documents to support discussions regarding the site's values and vulnerability, in order to create a sense of mutual responsibility among all stakeholders for the conservation of the site and its significance. All programs and projects of the management plan derive from the conditions of the place and from the results of these meetings.

The management plan was completed in the summer of 2002. In July 2002, the GCI and Concultura presented the plan to the vice president of El Salvador. The plan includes three components: the narrative of the plan, a full mapping of the site and projects, and a detailed description of projects. Implementation of the plan will remain an on-going activity. An executive summary was created in English, and Spanish and French to promote the plan and to introduce the program and project to potential financial supporters.

Currently the GCI team is working on a critical analysis of the application of the process identifying key steps and defining conditions that need to be in place or to be developed in order to undertake a sustainable and successful effort both in preparing and implementing a management plan.

A detailed topographic survey of the site and an architectural survey of each structure—both in digital form—have been conducted and are supporting the documentation of both the management plan and the study of the earthen remains.

Research on conservation of the earthen architecture

As one of the rare examples of earthen architecture to be found in a wet tropical environment, Joya de Cerén's architectural remains require particular conservation attention. A methodological approach was developed to assess the direct and indirect threats to which the structures are exposed, to better understand the conditions of the archeological remains and causes of decay, and to establish a strategy for their conservation. The final results of this detailed analysis are integrated into the management plan.

Work completed

Management Plan

• plan has been completed including:
  • interpretation of the site
  • significance and visitor statement
  • summary of the site and context condition
  • program and project
  • administration tools
  • reference
• detailed description of projects
• mapping of the site—the structure and context
  • recording of present day and past conditions
  • projection of future conditions

Condition Assessment and Conservation Strategy of the Structures

• recording and mapping condition of wet and dry season cycles
• recording and analysis of environmental data over three years
• history of intervention and research structures' conditions at the time of excavation
• characterization of the building material
• analysis of the microorganisms developing on the structures
• soil mechanical analysis
• condition assessment's report
• summary of most threaten conditions and recommended responses

Work in progress

• report on the process' implementation and analysis of other case studies in developing countries
• presentation of the project results to Maya Initiative partners
• dissemination