In the tropical rainforests of Guatemala, an archaeological team is revealing Mayan secrets from thousands of years ago at a site called San Bartolo. Originally discovered by Dr. Bill Saturno in 2001 by accident, this site has quickly become one of the "hotspots" of archaeological discovery.

The site at San Bartolo is comprised of more than 100 stone structures and open areas, including residential sites, a "palace," a large central plaza, and a ball court. In addition, there is a large pyramid with colorful narrative murals that are recognized as the most important body of known painted scenes for the Late Preclassic Maya Period. Not only are San Bartolo's murals well preserved, but they are exceptional in composition and in technical skill.

Already, the San Bartolo murals promise to provide new information about the Maya during this period, but first they must be restored, conserved, inter-preted, and protected. Already, looters have re-moved a wall below the murals, which has affected their integrity, resulting in loose fragments and cracks. Furthermore, the entire San Bartolo site must be excavated further to add to researchers’ understanding of the murals.

The Petén Archaeological Conservation Trust (PACT), led by Dr. Bill Saturno, has tackled the San Bartolo Project with technology and archaeological training. With a $35,000 grant from ICF’s Reinhart Foundation Fund, $20,000 from an anonymous ICF donor and additional support from National Geographic, PACT is documenting the murals using digital cameras and pen-and-ink drawings, conserving them with mortar and support structures, and finally, continuing its excavations. The researchers have uncovered elaborate scenes of birth and resurrection, in addition to the earliest evidence of kings and writing in the Maya lowlands.

PACT is also conducting a transect survey of the nearby site of Xultún and a regional survey using remote-sensing and satellite imagery. This data provides an extensive look at the developmental demography of the site and the Petén region overall. Using these techniques, PACT has been able to locate and map previously unknown archaeological sites in the region around San Bartolo for later investigations.

The discovery of the murals at San Bartolo has sparked discussions about possible eco- and cultural tourism in this remote region, which would create a viable economic alternative for local residents that currently rely on extractive activities, such as logging, for their livelihood.

The San Bartolo Project is featured in National Geographic’s December 2003 article, "Sistine Chapel of the Early Maya."