1. Guajiquiro Pueblo

2. The Lenca were the largest pre-Columbian indigenous group in what became Honduras. This map shows their distribution in They remain a people of the highlands.

3. Verano begins after the harvest of the milpas
Verano begins after the harvest of the milpas. During the 5-6 dry months, the Lenca undertake constructions projects, such as harvesting soil for making adobes for houses.

4. These adobes are free. The only cost is the labor, which is not easy.

5. Fine adobe house, constructed from local soil, clay and timber.

6. Timber harvest in Guajiquiro. No chainsaws allowed
Timber harvest in Guajiquiro. No chainsaws allowed. Instead, axes and crosscut saws are the main tools.

7. Typcal timber cut in Guajiquiro
Typcal timber cut in Guajiquiro. The pic on the right is an aserrio manual, a manual sawmill.

8. The inside of an adobe house where my students and I stayed for 3 weeks. We didn’t only play cards.

9. The bajareque is another common house-type made from local resources, which include timber, stones, clay and soil.

10. Bajareque house with guachiplin corner posts
Bajareque house with guachiplin corner posts. Though curvy, the Lenca favor the guachiplin because of its durability.

11. Lenca convenience store…bajareque.

12. The inside of a bajareque
The inside of a bajareque. This maize was ground up for delicious corn tortillas.

13. A Lenca man teaches his two boys how to make roof tiles from local clay deposits. Children work a lot in Guajiquiro.

14. Typical oven in a Lenca house
Typical oven in a Lenca house. Women cook over open fires, which makes for a smoky situation that can cause eye and respiratory problems.

16. Palm thatch
Garifuna continue to build the traditional wattle and daub, thatch-roof structures such as these near Sangrelaya, Honduras. Often they are used as ceremonial houses.