HONDURAN INSTITUTE OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND HISTORY SURFACE SURVEY NUEVA ARCADIA AND LA COFRADÍA WIND PROJECT PROVINCE OF FRANCISCO MORAZAN Prepared for The Sub Management of Heritage I.H.A.H. II. Researcher: Santiago Escobar-Morales Superisor: Oscar Niel October 2012
2 INTRODUCTION Through a request for an opinion presented to the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History (IHAH) by the company GLOBELEQ MESOAMERICA ENERGY in the city of Tegucigalpa, where the unprecedented population growth of the last few decades had made it necessary to provide, among other things, power using wind turbines, it is being proposed to add twelve (12) aerogenerators for a second phase of the project. This project is located in the municipality of San Ana, Francisco Morazan, in the southern part of Tegucigalpa, the capital city. Given the basic needs and shortage of power in the country, the company Globeleq Mesoamerica Energy has requested IHAH to carry out the corresponding surface survey to verify if [sic] [the area] where it is being proposed to install the 12 aerogenerators as a second phase of the project. Since IHAH is the only authorized entity to carry out such survey [sic], [to check that] when doing the earthworks there are not in those places any archeological remains that could be damaged by the construction. Therefore, the Sub Management of Heritage, through the Archeology Unit, has assigned technical personnel and archeologists to carry out this inspection. After receiving authorization from Dr. Eva Martinez, IHAH Sub Manager of Heritage, and instructions from Archeologist Oscar Neil of the Archeology Unit of this institution, the survey was carried out, starting with a walkthrough inspection. The foregoing information has the purpose of reiterating that the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History (IHAH) is the only governmental agency in charge of protecting and safeguarding the nation s cultural heritage. Location The place where six (6) of the aerogenerators are expected to be installed is on the left margin of a paved road, at the exit toward the city of Choluteca, close to the Nueva Arcadia community; the others are going to be installed at the top of the hills near La Cofradía community on the right margin of the paved road bound for San Buenaventura in the municipality of Santa Ana, Francisco Morazan. Noticing the earthworks carried out to install each of these aerogenerators and the building of access roads to get to them, a detailed walk-through of the area to be intervened by that company was done.
3 Location according to GPS coordinates, aerial photograph Area covered in Nueva Arcadia on the left margin of the road from Tegucigalpa to Choluteca shown in red
4 Area covered in La Cofradía on the right margin of the road bound for San Buenaventura, Municipality of Santa Ana, Francisco Morazan, shown in red OBJECTIVES 1. The inspection needs to be carried out in order to comply with the legal mandate to protect the nation s cultural heritage, Legislative Decree 220-97, articles 2, 15, 20, and 22, which mention the investigation conservation [sic] [obligation to investigate and conserve] of the nation s cultural assets. 2. Safeguard all existing archeological sites in the construction and installation area of the aerogenerators by the company Globeleq Mesoamerica Energy. 3. Identify the archeological sites by means of a detailed walk-through of the area to be intervened when building access roads to the aerogenerator construction and installation site. 4. Comply with one of the goals of IHAH; namely, the rescue and protection of all of the nation s cultural assets. 5. Try to identify as much as possible new archeological sites and add them to our records since for a variety of reasons the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History has not worked in all areas of the national territory.
5 6. Identify the degree of impact on the archeological and historical sites located in the area in order to present [an] archeological and historical mitigation, rescue, or salvage [plan], etc., for the second phase of the Project. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Reviewing the surface survey projects, the closest surveys undertaken that may be used as reference are those of the Wind Power Mesoamerica Energy project [sic] in the area of Santa Ana in the Province of Francisco Morazan. From an archeological perspective, the area of Tegucigalpa has not been studied in depth. One of the researchers who has done some scientific investigation is the American archeologist Doris Stone, who in the first half of the 20th century did a surface survey of Honduras, later recorded in her books published in the fifties. [In her book] she mentions a couple of archeological sites in the periphery of what was then Tegucigalpa and which today are some of its neighborhoods. In the nineties, the American archeologist[s] Alison McKittrick Boyd Dixon, Anne Jung, and Pastor Gomez visit some sites that have some cave paintings; they visited the province of Francisco Morazan where they recorded some cave-painting sites near Tegucigalpa. In 2000, an assessment of the cave-painting sites near Tegucigalpa was undertaken by Social Anthropologist Alejandro Figueroa, a Honduran citizen, and Physical Anthropologist Francisco Rodriguez-Mota, a Mexican citizen, together with personnel assigned by the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History (IHAH). METHODOLOGY Using the transect method at 10 to 20 meter intervals from north to south and from east to west, as allowed by the rugged terrain, we moved around livestock pasture lands, alluvial terraces, dirt roads, internal roads, cultivated areas, empty plots, plots with houses, hill slopes, etc. For the records, we used orthophotographic images of the site locations and an aerial photo locating the coordinates where the aerogenerators will be installed and photocopies of the data records on file at IHAH. To set up the coordinates, we used a GPS, a camera, and visual inspection, and [the help of] people familiar with the area where the wind power generators will be built and installed.
6 RATIONALE Since earthworks will be done in the area to build roads and install the aerogenerators, we undertook a detailed archeological walk-through that would allow us to safeguard any detectable archeological presence on the surface. [It should be] taken into account that all modifications or alterations of land that have archeological or historical traces should be authorized by the mayor s office prior authorization and opinion of the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History. Because it is an unavoidable obligation that, before building any works, whether public or private, it [the construction] will be conditioned to an opinion report of the archeological condition of the land subject to be modified, altered, or impacted [sic], because only the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History is the only governmental institution responsible for the conservation, protection, and rescue of the nation s cultural heritage and no other entity may authorize or carry out earthworks in an archeological area without prior authorization [sic] Once the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History has carried out the inspections, excavations, and land assessment, as in this case, the request presented will be authorized or denied. RESULTS After completing the surface survey of the aforementioned lands, using the orthophotographic images and the coordinate points provided by the company Globeleq Mesoamerica Energy as aid, we did not find any place with superficial archeological presence; so we describe the results of the inspection below. Start at Coordinate #1 16p 0473710 UTM 1537909 Milestone marking the spot on the side of the paved road from Tegucigalpa to Choluteca. On the wall, a mural that says If you want good, report evil may be read.
7 Left margin of the southbound road Road cut on the right margin Coordinate #2, point 11-01 C 16p 0474097 UTM 1538001 This point is located in a flat area with pine trees and scattered flagstones in their natural state and sandy soil with little humidity Coordinate #3, point 11-02 C 16p 0474221 UTM 1537801 This point is identical to the previous one; the only difference being that it is next to a stone wall in a north-south direction, in a flat area with source rock, flagstone in its natural state. Here it is possible to notice the area where the aerogenerator will be installed as well as the stone wall mentioned.
8 Coordinate #4, point 11-03 C 16p 0474345 UTM 1537626 At this point, low vegetation with pine trees, not very humid, scattered flagstone in their natural state, and source rock as land base may be noted. Pasture land for livestock, very humid, swampy Coordinate #5, point 11-04 C GPS = 11-04 D 16p 0474536 UTM 1537542 Point in a flat area with pine and oak trees, with poles for livestock, not very swampy, close the wind metering tower Coordinate #6, point 11-05 C 16p 0474758 UTM 1537481 Point in a flat area with pine and oak trees, not swampy, located at about 40 meters from the road from Nueva Arcadia to Mesa Grande on the left margin
9 Here we have a more fertile soil with pine and oak trees at point 11-04D Coordinate #7, point 11-06 C GPS = 11-06 16p 0474915 UTM 1537321 This point is located in a soccer field area, flat land with pine and oak trees around it; on the south side, there are some houses and on the north, the hill slopes
10 Coordinate #8, point 13-01 F 16p 0476137 UTM 1537997 Irregular terrain, flagstone hill, little vegetation, at about 800 meters from a community (La Cofradía, Santa Ana, Francisco Morazan) At this rough flagstone (source rock) site aerogenerator 13-01F will be installed Coordinate #9 point 13-02 F 16p 0476288 UTM 1537873 Land with bushes and oak trees, flat area with little water deposited by rain between the flagstones; it is part of the hill where 13-01 is located.
11 Coordinate #10, point 13-03 F 16p 0476453 UTM 1537738 Land on top of a hill, flat with bushes and oak trees; it is close to one of the wind metering towers; rocky terrain Coordinate #11, point 13-04 F 16p 0476599 UTM 1537579 Flat terrain on top of a hill; it was noticed that it has little earth with bushes, pine and oak trees; most of the wind park may be seen from here. Most of the aerogenerators of phase one may be seen here.
12 Coordinate #12, point 13-05 F 16p 0476747 UTM 1537423 Land with little earth where pine and oak trees may be seen; flat rocky area with rainwater deposited among the rocks Coordinate #13, point 7-03 C 16p 0476055 UTM 1539440 This is a flat area with pasture for cattle; it is also possible to see a new road opened which was used to extract select material from a quarry some time in the past. Coordinate #14 16p 0476122 UTM 1539342 A land cut on a hill was noticed; it is on the access road to the quarry where material was extracted and near the place where aerogenerator 7-03 will be installed. Cut on the road to the quarry Material piled up on the quarry
13 Coordinate #15 16p 0474996 UTM 1537251 Rocky terrain on the north side of the soccer field where aerogenerator 1106 C will be installed; it is at the foot of the hill and there is a rock outcrop. Coordinate #16 16p 0474872 UTM 1537216 Coordinate around point 11-06 C; flat area with pine and oak trees on the west side of the soccer field. West side of the coordinate close to point 11-06C
14 Coordinate #17 16p 0474802 UTM 1537409 Coordinate between point 11-05 and 11-06; flat land with pine and oak trees; terrain with little earth; the hill foot is made of source rock (flagstone) Coordinate #18 16p 0474840 UTM 1537605 Coordinate around the place where aerogenerator 11-05 will be installed; flat terrain, rocky with pine and oak trees Coordinate #19 16p 0474859 UTM 1537409 Coordinate around the place where aerogenerator 11-05 will be installed; flat land, rocky with pine and oak trees; a stone fence can be seen. Coordinate #20 16p 0474732 UTM 1537315 Coordinate around the place where aerogenerator 11-05 will be installed; rock mounts in their natural state can be seen; it is located on the left margin of a dirt road going to Mesa Grande. Coordinate #21 16p 0474705 UTM 1537574 Destroyed stone fence on the side of the road close to point 11-05; flat land with pine and oak tree, not very humid
15 Coordinate #22 16p 0474452 UTM 1537692 Flat terrain close to point 11-04; rock outcrops in their natural state with bushes and deposited rainwater; little swampy; it is located on the right side of the dirt road to Mesa Grande Flat area where the rock outcrops may be seen. Coordinate #23 16p 0474518 UTM 1537477 Flat land near point 11-04 where a modern house foundation is located; there is a group of piled stone which belong to the house
16 Coordinate #24 16p 0474630 UTM 1537397 Close to point 11-04; flat land, little swampy, with rock outcrops and pine trees Coordinate #25 16p 0474401 UTM 1537713 Coordinate close to aerogenerator 7-03, flat land with pasture for cattle and pine trees as well as flagstone outcrops Coordinate #26 16p 0474346 UTM 1537546 Coordinate close to aerogenerator; flat land with grass and pine trees; flagstone outcrops and water deposited among the rocks Coordinate #27 16p 0474187 UTM 1537576 Flat land with grass; rainwater stream; flagstone outcrops and pine and oak trees Coordinate #28 16p 0474166 UTM 1537730 Flat land between aerogenerator 11-03 and 11-02 with pine trees and pasture for cattle Coordinate #29 16p 0474291 UTM 1537764 Around point 11-02, flat land with pine and oak trees, pasture for cattle; flagstone outcrops in their natural state
17 Coordinate #30 16p 0474086 UTM 1537841 Point between 11-02 and 11-01, flat land with grass and pine trees and rainwater between the rocks Coordinate #31 16p 0474034 UTM 1537983 Coordinate around 11-01; stone wall near the hill foot; stream; point on the left side of the paved road to Choluteca Coordinate #32 16p 0474242 UTM 1537011 Coordinate in a flat pasture land with grass; some modern houses may be seen on the northern and northeastern sides where the aerogenerator will be installed Coordinate #33 16p 04747015 [sic] UTM 1537711 Coordinate where a more than 20m tall cliff can be seen. Wall near the installation site of 13-05F
18 Coordinate #34 16p 0474977 UTM 1537289 Coordinate in the old road from Tegucigalpa to Choluteca; flat land with pine and oak trees Coordinate #35 16p 0476514 UTM 1537429 Point around 13-04F and 13-05F; flat land with pine and oak trees; scattered rocks in their natural state Coordinate #36 16p 0476448 UTM 1537710 Stretch at the 13-03F site where the road is divided by two stone fences Here we can see the stone walls
19 Coordinate #37 16p 0476470 UTM 1537765 Stretch at point 13-03 with view of Valle de Sauce Coordinate #38 16p 0476439 UTM 1537798 End of a stretch where grass was cut at 13-03F on top of the hill because of the height of the vegetation we did not have good visibility Coordinate #39 16p 0476346 UTM 1537813 Coordinate between 13-03F and 13-02F; flat land with pine and oak trees, and pasture for cattle Coordinate #40 16p 0476218 UTM 1537945 Coordinate between 13-02F and 13-01F; flat land with scattered rocks in their natural state Coordinate #41 16p 0476065 UTM 1537923 Coordinate near 13-01F; land with source rock (flagstone)
20 Coordinate #42 16p 0476283 UTM 1537754 Coordinate in a forest of oak trees near point 13-02F, 13-03F, and 13-01F Coordinate #43 16p 0476838 UTM 1537348 Coordinate around 13-05F; flat land with rock outcrops and pine and oak trees In this photo, we can see the rock outcrop Coordinate #44 16p 0476276 UTM 1539242 Coordinate where select material for filling and building rocks was extracted
21 Coordinate #45 16p 0475990 UTM 1539484 Point where grass was cut; natural rock mount (rock outcrop) CONCLUSION After visiting all the pasture lands with livestock roads, flat areas at the hill terraces, the terrace roads, the internal logger roads in the hills and mountains, empty plots and plots with houses at the foot of the hills [sic] We also walked along the margins of rainwater streams and garbage dumpsters seen along the road sides, terrains with modern constructions in the communities near the hill foot. Based on the results, from the point of view of the land, which are rock outcrops in their natural state, the lack of water at the sites where the company Globeleq Mesoamerica Energy is going to intervene, we did not find any superficial archeological traces or beginnings. It was concluded that nowhere in the whole terrain and construction area for the roads and installation of wind power aerogenerators are there visible archeological, colonial, or historical sites. But it would be necessary to pay attention to the earthworks. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Before starting earthworks, it will be necessary to notify IHAH to assign authorized personnel to supervise the earthworks and construction. 2. This type of investigation should be implemented in all terrains whose owners change their current use, either for agricultural activities, infrastructure construction, or others. 3. Constant monitoring with personnel assigned by IHAH should be maintained during the road constructions and installation of the wind power aerogenerators in the project, since we observed several places that up to the time of the walk-through had not been modified and where historical or cultural findings in the subsoil may be damaged.
22 4. The company Globeleq Mesoamerica Energy is advised to carry out this type of investigation before any project, either building and expanding a road or installing new wind power aerogenerators inside and outside populated areas. Santiago Escobar-Morales IHAH Archeology Technician
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