Los Encuentros 1 & 2

At the confluence of the Quebrada El Silencio and the Río El Tambor there are two sites on opposite sites of the Río El Tambor in an area locally known as Los Encuentros 1 and 2. The first site encountered, Los Encuentros 1, is situated on the west side of the Río El Tambor river. The principal construction is a series of platforms and two mounds directly oriented to a serpentine outcrop at the west side.  Although few ceramic shreds were found on the surface, a large obsidian point was discovered. The point does resemble Classic Maya examples from the Petén, although these tend to be of flint rather than obsidian.   Directly across the river to the east, there is Los Encuentros 2, clearly the larger of the two sites. However, much of the construction is covered by vegetation. One platform close to the shore is roughly 4 meters high, and is faced with alluvial cobbles. In contrast to Sitio Aguilucho, Carrizal Grande and other sites in the Quebrada El Silencio drainage, there is little evidence of Jade debitage and jade working at either of the Los Encuentros sites. A new Obsidian source and workshops have been recently discovered near the sites. So this finding confirm that Los Encuentros were an important Obsidian objects source in contrast with the nearby sites that were Jade producers.

Los Encuentros Actual Views
Obsidian Point

 

La Ceiba

The site of   La Ceiba located  in the Eastern Highlands, east of  Los Encuentros, in the oposite side of  Río El Tambor belonging to the drainage in Quebrada El Silencio and Río La Puerta, here is located a  jadeite quarry, with purple, white and brilliant green.

  The site is located 2 Km. away from the modern town of La Ceiba, unfortunately, the agriculture has damaged the site, but several miunds can be seen, and the arregment is very similar to that of  Los Encuentros,

Gray Jadeite in La Ceiba

Green