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Results of the 2012 Excavations at Kaxil Uinic Ruins
to cut perpendicular brechas extending 100 m
to the north and the south. This would have
created a 200-x-400-m survey block centered
on the main courtyard of the prehistoric site.
Following the same system used to map
Chan Chich (see Robichaux and Houk 1996),
the ruins, cultural features, topography, and
vegetation were to be mapped in this block.
Based on the success in identifying the Western
Causeway at Chan Chich using this system in
1996 (see Houk et al. 1996), we believed it
would be possible to determine if a sacbe enters
Kaxil Uinic from the east, as hypothesized.
Using the primary datum for the survey block,
we proposed to use a total data station (TDS) to
make a detailed topographic map of structures
at Kaxil Uinic. The map would show the
locations of excavation units, looters’ trenches,
and monuments. Looters’ trenches were to be
cleaned and profiled, if possible. Ceramics
from undisturbed contexts in the trenches were
to be collected if found.
Test pitting was to be conducted in selected
locations at Kaxil Uinic. Preliminarily, we
proposed a 2-x-2-m test pit be excavated
in each courtyard to collect information on
construction sequence, chronology, and depth
of cultural deposits. More excavations were to
be conducted at the discretion of the principal
investigator, possibly on structures or at the
base of the stela and altar. If carvings proved
to still be visible on the stela and altar, we
proposed taking photographs of them at night
with battery-powered lights.
Additionally, mapping crews would attempt to
locate the remains of the historic chicle camp.
According to Thompson’s (1963) description,
the camp should be near the aguada. If the
aguada proved to be located outside of the
designated survey area around the ruins, we
planned to extend the block or create a new one
to include the historic site in the survey. We
proposed to map visible features and use shovel
testing to try to locate historic trash middens.
The purpose of the historic investigations at
this point was to locate the remains of the camp,
assess its condition, and determine its extent.
Modified Research Design
As noted above, the thick vegetation and debris
resulting from the 2010 hurricane rendered our
initial research design unfeasible. To clear the
site to the degree needed to make a detailed
TDS map would have taken weeks, and cutting
survey brechas was pointless because the
vegetation was too thick to allow mapping along
the brechas. We scaled back our investigations
accordingly. The vegetation in the courtyards
was cleared enough to enable excavations
in areas of interest and to locate many of the
structures originally mapped by Guderjan et al.
(1991). What Guderjan et al. (1991) called the
western courtyard we call the main courtyard
due to the fact that the eastern courtyard is not a
true courtyard. The main courtyard was cleared
enough to gain access to the stela and altar that
are situated at the western base of Structure 3.
Vegetation was also cleared on the north side
of Structure 6, the south side of Structure 12,
and the south side of Structure 2 to allow for
excavations intended to expose architecture.
Trails were cut around the site to allow for
access between excavation areas. A datum was
established north of Structure 2 and 50-m long
brechas were cut by the workmen to the north
and south of the datum to enable us to look
for the hypothesized sacbe connecting Kaxil
Uinic to Chan Chich. A detailed topographic
map of the site proved to be an impossible task
to complete due to the thick vegetation and
felled trees at the site. However, modifications
were made to Guderjan et al.’s (1991) map,
including the correction of the orientation
of some structures as well as the addition of
two structures that are located to the south of
Structures 2 and 3.
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