project director: Dr. Jan Szymański
research location: San Isidro archaeological site, department of Sonsonate, El Salvador, Central America
site characteristics: The site has been continuously eroded by heavy agricultural machinery. Currently ca. 20 visible remains of monumental architecture are still recognisable. Dating of surface collections of pottery encompasses the Middle (ca. 1000-400 BC) and Late (ca. 400 BC-AD 250) Preclassic periods. San Isidro most likely served as a large regional center at the southeastern frontier of the Pre-Columbian Maya culture. The reconnaissance works were carried out between 2018 and 2020. In 2021 archaeological excavations commenced.
participating institutions: University of Warsaw (Poland), Universidad Francisco Gavidia (El Salvador), Dirección de Arqueología del Ministerio de Cultura (El Salvador)
dating: tentative, ~1000 BC – AD 250
financing:
2021-2023 – “Sonata” grant (no. 2019/35/D/HS3/00219) titled. “Na kresach Mezoameryki: badania archeologiczne stanowiska San Isidro w Salwadorze” (“On the Fringes of Mesoamerica: archaeological research at the site of San Isidro, El Salvador”)
2018 – “Miniatura” grant provided by the National Center for Sciences (Narodowe Centrum Nauki – NCN), (ID 381403), 2019 – funds from the “Excellence Strategies – Research Academy” program
research description: In 2018 a field survey was carried out, as well as partial photogrammetric documentation of the visible architectural remains. A drone-based topographic map, albeit interim, has been elaborated. The works will continue in 2019.
bibliography:
2020; Szymański J.; Recent Research at San Isidro, El Salvador, in the Context of the Southeastern Mesoamerican Archaeology, Estudios Latinoamericanos 40:1-28.
2018; Szymański J., M. Mendez, M. Toledo, J. Avalos Campos, R. Cabrera, R. Cea; San Isidro: Large Preclassic site at the eastern edge of the Maya Culture, Mexicon 40(40):100-104.
