Ever since Josh and Eli Turner had met Maria, she’d teased the elder Turner about his uncanny resemblance to the actor, Sam Neill, who portrayed Dr. Alan Grant in the movie Jurassic Park. Before long, the other students picked up on it and the nickname stuck.
“We would stop calling him that if he didn’t wear that damned Australian outback hat all the time,” she replied, with a laugh that warmed Turner’s heart. “He told me just last week he was wearing that hat long before that movie came out, and that they stole the idea from the photo of him in Archeology Magazine.”
“So, Maria, what’s so darned important that it couldn’t wait a few more days until the festival was over? My aching back was just beginning to straighten out from the long flight.”
“I’m really sorry to interrupt your time off, Josh, but I didn’t want word to get out,” she said seriously. “I figured with everyone away for the festival, you might be able to shed some light on a little mystery without an audience.”
“The new pyramid is no real mystery, Maria. They—”
“It’s not the pyramid,” she interrupted, “but something Samuel and I discovered while hiking on the western slopes of Blanca Mountain, up near the northern ridge of the Teide volcano. We were off the main trail system, and made it up the western edge of Blanca when we found a recent rockslide that exposed an ancient lava tube. You know Samuel,” she added, rolling her eyes. “He couldn’t pass up the opportunity to explore, so we decided to check it out. We actually found undisturbed Guanche dwellings, artifacts, and burial caves.”
“What’s the mystery of that, Maria? They’re quite common to these islands and discovered all the time. I‘m sure you were like a kid in a candy store though,” Turner said with a chuckle.
“I know, Josh. It’s not a unique discovery, but what we found deep inside the cave is. We took some photos of all we found on the digital camera and left it as is. We told no one so it wouldn’t be disturbed until a proper field study could be launched. Come over here and take a look.” Turner followed her past two long tables used for eating, and a corner area set up for the laptop computers.
The small corner table was a myriad of wires, extension cords, and surge suppressors, which were haphazardly lying about. Outside, the portable generator purred softly, supplying the light and power needed for the small refrigerator, lights, and computer power strips.
“I know the pixel quality isn’t very good, but take a look at these, Josh.” Maria said, clicking on the laptop’s picture viewer program.
Turner saw on the screen the ancient cave, formed from a volcanic lava tube, its black basalt walls glimmering in the sunlight near the entrance, and then fading into the darker recesses of the cave. Maria continued advancing the pictures, showing items such as two well preserved tamarcos, coats of goat skin that protected the ancient Gaunches from the cold of the mountains, and, a huirmas, a piece of leather worn like sleeves to protect the arms.
“Look at the guaycas,” Turner said, marveling at the crude leather legging used to cover the area between the ankle and the knee. “They’re remarkably well preserved.”
“Yes, they are, but bear with me. That‘s not what I brought you here for,” she said, quickly advancing the picture viewer. “When we approached the darker recesses of the cave, we had to pull out the flash light Samuel keeps in his back pack in order to continue. We saw several bucios, the large conch shells they used as trumpets along with a pile of banot, wooden spears and many other pristine artifacts.”
“Okay, Maria, that is all well and good. These are remarkable finds, but what’s the great puzzle here?” Turner asked, becoming a little annoyed.
“Here!” she exclaimed as the next slide showed what looked like small carved out fissures with basalt rocks stacked in front of them. “Guanche burial caves similar to what we have seen many times before, but take a look at the one at the far right. It’s much different from the others and the cover stone has something etched into it. It was way too faded to discern with one small light, so we’ll have to clean up the image to really distinguish what the symbol is.”
“Interesting that it’s different from the others,” Turner said, leaning closer to get a better look. “So, is that it?”
“No, we were preparing to leave when I saw something lying on the ground, partially buried in front of the tomb. We took a closer look and discovered a piece of parchment with writing on it. Oddly enough, it’s not ancient Guanche, or Spanish,” she said as the final slide appeared on the screen showing a close up of a segment of papyrus.
“Is this a joke?” Turner asked, staring at the photo with amazement.
“No joke, Josh,” she replied as they stared at the writing on the ancient parchment.
“This is written in ancient Aramaic!” Turner said in astonishment. “What the hell would this be doing in a Guanche tomb on one of the Canary Islands?”
“That’s why I called you first. I figured this may be an important find, or a complete waste of our time,” Maria said hesitantly as she poured herself a cup of coffee that was at least six hours old. “You understand Aramaic. Can you make it out?”
“It’s pretty faded on this picture, Maria. I’d need to see it blown up in order to translate it,” Turner replied, still focusing on the strange document. “Do you think that your father at the university can get the approvals for us to begin a proper excavation without the usual red tape?”
“I’m sure when he sees this, Josh, and, if it turns out to be the real deal, he’ll find a way. Father has many friends in the Policia Nacional, and in the island administration.”
“Has Samuel said anything about this to anyone?” Turner asked.
“We made a deal not to tell anyone until we could talk to you, your father, and to my father. We didn’t want to risk the chance of relic hunters gutting the place before we could survey and document everything.”
“Nicely done, Maria; your father will be proud of you. Why don’t you take what you have back to San Fernando University and get a translation on this before we announce anything,” Turner said as he closed the laptop lid and handed it to Maria.
“I’m way ahead of you, Josh. We burnt the parchment and cover stone pictures to a CD then I sent Samuel back to Santa Cruz University. I’ll send them to my father when I meet up with Samuel at the university. We’re all meeting tonight at the Cofradia de Pescadores restaurant for our monthly meeting. Hopefully, we can discuss whatever we find out from the antiquities department,” she said, as the two turned and started walking out of the office.
Locking the door behind them, Turner said, “I’m heading back to the hotel to get cleaned up, so I’ll meet you later.”
“Okay, Josh, I’ll see you there,” Maria yelled as she sprinted toward her Jeep. Turner watched her, wondering what it would take to breach that wall of dedication to her work.
Early evening had come to the city of Santa Cruz along with the festive atmosphere, which now enveloped the city streets as Paulo pulled the Land Rover in front of the entrance to the El Dorado hotel.
The El Dorado was one of the few hotels that were affordable to the university since they were footing the bill for Turner’s stay. The hotel was clean, and attractive with comfortable accommodations.
“I’ll pick you up at seven o’clock, Josh,” Paulo yelled as he pulled away from the entrance.
“Oh, that’s just lovely,” Turner grumbled, looking at his watch and seeing it was already close to six o’clock. “That gives me just one hour to rest and shower.”
He passed through the colorful glass doors that led into the hotel’s lobby. In the courtyard he saw the now familiar circular bar. The piano player was already into his first set for the evening. The small lounge was a favorite for Turner and Samuel after a long day on the dig site. He then walked over to the front desk where the night clerk was just beginning his shift.