Arturo González - 2008 Associate Laureate

To bring submerged archaeological remains to the surface, where they can be studied and preserved, Arturo González has to make exhausting dives in the Yucatan's cenotes. González and Assistant Flor de Maria Curiel, preparing for a dive in the El Templo cenote, discuss the cave structure, the volume of air needed and their safety procedures. González and Assistant Flor de Maria Curiel consult before diving in the El Templo cenote. The exploration and study of Yucatan's labyrithic underwater cave systems presents major physical and technical challenges. For González and his team, several dives and painstaking archaeological work are necessary to excavate the bones found in cenotes, such as this skull dating from the Maya period. González recovers a skull from a cenote. Human skeletons were found several hundred metres from the cave's entrance. Suggesting that they were deposited there intentionally when the caves were dry, about 10,000 years ago. Since 1999 Mexican archaeologist and biologist Arturo González has explored and studied the Yucatan Peninsula's underwater sinkholes, knows as cenotes. Arturo González and colleague Carmen Rojas look for archaeological remains in the 60 km-long Dos Ojos cenote, one of the longest underwater cave systems of the Yucatan peninsula. González's project has led to the excavation of many prehistoric remains in the submerged caves of Yucatan, such as these bones of extinct camelid and horse species. Using an underwater-compass, González records the exact position of camelid and horse fossils in a cenote. Their study will broaden the knowledge about ancient fauna, environment and climate. The human remains that González and his colleagues excavated in Yucatan's cenotes have shed new light on the early human settlement of the Americas. In a field laboratory he established in the jungle, González and colleague Flor de Maria Curiel carry out a preliminary study of two human skulls brought out of a nearby cenote. González (centre) discusses three skulls that he excavated in Yucatan's cenotes with Alenjandro Terrazas Mata (left) and Guillermo Acosta, of Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM).
To bring submerged archaeological remains to the surface, where they can be studied and preserved, Arturo González has to make exhausting dives in the Yucatan's cenotes.

©RolexAwards/Kurt Armsler

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, 2008
To bring submerged archaeological remains to the surface, where they can be studied and preserved, Arturo González has to make exhausting dives in the Yucatan's cenotes.

González and Assistant Flor de Maria Curiel, preparing for a dive in the El Templo cenote, discuss the cave structure, the volume of air needed and their safety procedures.

©RolexAwards/Kurt Armsler

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, 2008
González and Assistant Flor de Maria Curiel, preparing for a dive in the El Templo cenote, discuss the cave structure, the volume of air needed and their safety procedures.

González and Assistant Flor de Maria Curiel consult before diving in the El Templo cenote. The exploration and study of Yucatan's labyrithic underwater cave systems presents major physical and technical challenges.

©RolexAwards/Kurt Armsler

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, 2008
González and Assistant Flor de Maria Curiel consult before diving in the El Templo cenote. The exploration and study of Yucatan's labyrithic underwater cave systems presents major physical and technical challenges.

For González and his team, several dives and painstaking archaeological work are necessary to excavate the bones found in cenotes, such as this skull dating from the Maya period.

©RolexAwards/Kurt Armsler

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, 2008
For González and his team, several dives and painstaking archaeological work are necessary to excavate the bones found in cenotes, such as this skull dating from the Maya period.

González recovers a skull from a cenote. Human skeletons were found several hundred metres from the cave's entrance. Suggesting that they were deposited there intentionally when the caves were dry, about 10,000 years ago.

©RolexAwards/Kurt Armsler

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, 2008
González recovers a skull from a cenote. Human skeletons were found several hundred metres from the cave's entrance. Suggesting that they were deposited there intentionally when the caves were dry, about 10,000 years ago.

Since 1999 Mexican archaeologist and biologist Arturo González has explored and studied the Yucatan Peninsula's underwater sinkholes, knows as cenotes.

©RolexAwards/Kurt Armsler

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, 2008
Since 1999 Mexican archaeologist and biologist Arturo González has explored and studied the Yucatan Peninsula's underwater sinkholes, knows as cenotes.

Arturo González and colleague Carmen Rojas look for archaeological remains in the 60 km-long Dos Ojos cenote, one of the longest underwater cave systems of the Yucatan peninsula.

©RolexAwards/Kurt Armsler

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, 2008
Arturo González and colleague Carmen Rojas look for archaeological remains in the 60 km-long Dos Ojos cenote, one of the longest underwater cave systems of the Yucatan peninsula.

González's project has led to the excavation of many prehistoric remains in the submerged caves of Yucatan, such as these bones of extinct camelid and horse species.

©RolexAwards/Kurt Armsler

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, 2008
González's project has led to the excavation of many prehistoric remains in the submerged caves of Yucatan, such as these bones of extinct camelid and horse species.

Using an underwater-compass, González records the exact position of camelid and horse fossils in a cenote. Their study will broaden the knowledge about ancient fauna, environment and climate.

©RolexAwards/Kurt Armsler

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, 2008
Using an underwater-compass, González records the exact position of camelid and horse fossils in a cenote. Their study will broaden the knowledge about ancient fauna, environment and climate.

The human remains that González and his colleagues excavated in Yucatan's cenotes have shed new light on the early human settlement of the Americas.

©RolexAwards/Kurt Armsler

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, 2008
The human remains that González and his colleagues excavated in Yucatan's cenotes have shed new light on the early human settlement of the Americas.

In a field laboratory he established in the jungle, González and colleague Flor de Maria Curiel carry out a preliminary study of two human skulls brought out of a nearby cenote.

©RolexAwards/Kurt Armsler

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, 2008
In a field laboratory he established in the jungle, González and colleague Flor de Maria Curiel carry out a preliminary study of two human skulls brought out of a nearby cenote.

González (centre) discusses three skulls that he excavated in Yucatan's cenotes with Alenjandro Terrazas Mata (left) and Guillermo Acosta, of Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM).

©RolexAwards/Thierry Grobet

Mexico City, Mexico, 2008
González (centre) discusses three skulls that he excavated in Yucatan's cenotes with Alenjandro Terrazas Mata (left) and Guillermo Acosta, of Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM).