With the help of Bernie Mittelstaedt, I photographed the monuments of La Florida over two nights on April 9-10, 2019. Joanne Baron, considered today’s expert on the site and its monuments, had already been working at the site for some time, but my own work there was not part of her project. I had contacted her about my intentions, and she gave me the green light.  However, any arrangements to photograph would have to be made by me and Bernie after we arrived there.

We had just come from La Libertad where, three years prior, again thanks to Bernie’s incredible diplomatic skills, we had gotten permission to photograph pieces in the municipality (Corpus Volume 7: Itzimte Stelae at La Libertad, Petén, Guatemala). I returned this year, 2019, to present La Libertad alcalde Benjamin Ipiña printed photographs of the monuments suitable for hanging. He was very appreciative. When Bernie mentioned our intention to go to the site of La Florida in the town of El Naranjo, the alcalde made a call for us and paved the way.

Arriving in El Naranjo around midday we went first to see the alcalde, to tell him our intentions and to get his blessings. Later in the evening, Bernie arranged for us to enter the military base where many of the monuments were located. The site itself is scattered throughout the town and the military base, with one of the main archaeological plazas now serving as a soccer field, a soccer field with monuments on the edges.

Now, some four years later, I am happy to present to you, our readers, this collection of photographs.

-Bruce Love

Corpus Volume 14: Monuments from La Florida Namaan, Petén, Guatemala