| The Cotzumalguapa Nuclear Zone covers a 10km2 area on the Pacific Coast of Guatemala. Archaeological interest in the area often stems from the unique artistic style displayed in its numerous monuments. However, more recent research has shown the Cotzumalguapa Nuclear Zone to be a well-planned urban center, rich on architectural features. Due to modern land use and volcanic eruptions, the architectural deposits of this Late Classic site is largely concealed. Through the use of ground penetrating radar, the subsurface of the Cotzumalguapa Nuclear Zone can be explored in a timely and nondestructive manner. With over 114,000m2 of GPR data collected from various portions of the site, comparisons can be made regarding the extent to which deposits vary between these areas. By calculating the variance-to-mean ratios of 6 different areas, the extent to which the densities of the deposits vary can be assessed. |
