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Results of the 2012 Excavations at Kaxil Uinic Ruins
KU-1-F) was opened on the southern end of
Subop KU-1-C.
Humus Layer
The humus layer (10YR3/2, dark grayish
brown) was designated Lot KU-1-C-1. Many
roots and rootlets were present in this lot,
including three larger roots approximately
10 cm in diameter. The ceramic assemblage
found in this lot was mixed with types ranging
from the Middle Preclassic to the Terminal
Classic. This was also the case in the extension
designated KU-1-F. Two pieces of speleothems
or travertine were found in Lot KU-1-F (Figure
5.9). This is a rock that is formed in caves and
there are no caves known in close proximity to
the site.
A large bifacial tool measuring about 16 cm in
length was found in this the topsoil of KU-1-F
as were several more fragments of speleothems/
travertine.
Figure 5.8.
Photograph of Subop KU-1-H facing
north, with the wall (Lot KU-1-H-3)
visible at the north end of the unit.
the mound 1 m to the north of the unit indicate
that the wall is approximately 2 m thick.
Structure 6
Structure 6 is a pyramid structure that is
situated at the southern edge of Kaxil Uinic’s
main courtyard. Structure 6 is oriented 265
degrees east of north and is about 5 m tall. Its
north-south axis is about 16.5 m long, and its
east-west axis is about 23.5 m long. A 2-x-2-m
unit designated Subop KU-1-C was opened
on the north slope of the structure in hopes
of exposing architecture. Based on the large
number of artifacts recovered from the topsoil
of this first subop and the realization that the
unit was too low on the mound to catch intact
architecture, an additional 2-x-2-m unit (Subop
Steps
Lots KU-1-C-2 and KU-1-F-2 were three cutstones
that spanned both subops, forming the
lowest step to the structure’s stairs (Figure 5.10).
The largest and most exposed of the cut-stones
measured 34 cm in width, 57 cm in length,
and 26 cm in height. The size of these stones
possibly suggests an Early Classic or Late
Preclassic construction date. Any additional
steps above this lower level were not preserved
well enough to be detected during excavations.
When it was apparent that the excavators had
exposed construction fill above and south of the
well-preserved step (Lot KU-1-F-2), Lot KU-
1-F-3 was designated. This construction fill
was excavated to collect a ceramic sample to
help in dating the construction of the structure.
The construction fill contained Palmar Orange
polychrome, which dates to the Late Classic
period, suggesting that the final phase of
construction of Structure 6 took place during
this period. Lot KU-1-F-4 was a fairly well
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