Introduction

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Because the area outside the southeast corner of the upper building has never been excavated, this task was decided upon for the summer of 1978.  Tesoro 23 will represent the excavation of this area

In 1972-1973 the area immediately outside the southeast corner of the upper building was excavated (see H Hallberg, Book I : 1972-1973).  In addition to defining the southeast corner of the upper building, the excavation of this area produced several compplete frieze plaques as well as other forms of architectural decoration.  However, no architecture was found.

In 1970 the area to the east of the upper building was excavated (see C. Schieffer, Book I : 1970).  Tesoro 11, 12, 13 and 14 were excavated at random points approximately fifteen meters to the east of the upper building's eastern wall.  No architecture was found and the finds from these trenches were

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few and insignificant.  Moreover, only one of these trenches, T11 (which is located the furthest to the south of any Tesoro trenches dug to the east of the upper building), managed to reach one meter in depth before bedrock was reached.

In addition, the area directly south of the southeast corner of the upper building is being excavated this summer* S. Leach, Book I : 1978 ).  Hence, the area left to be excavated in order to determine whether or not there are structures outside the southeast corner of the upper building is an area approximately 5-40 meters east-southeast of the upper building.  Tesoro 23 will begin to examine this area this summer.

A random point will be used to begin excavation in this area.  Therefore, the grid system which will be established for Tesoro 23 will

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not be relative to that already established for the Tesoros and rectangles within and immediately surrounding the walls of the upper building.  The random point used to begin Tesoro 23 will be approximately 15 meters east-southeast of the upper building's corner.  The initial cut will consist of three meters in width by eight meters in length and this area will be designated ABC/0-7.