HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS OF THE ANCIENT MAYA IN THE ...

113sex (including several males and one female), juveniles, and children also occurredthroughout these caves, but at lower frequencies. For example, an estimate of 16children was calculated for the skeletal collection I analyzed for this study.It is possible that these caves served as repositories or ossuaries used for theprimary and secondary deposition of the general populations of Dos Pilas and LasPacayas. However, these individuals may also be the remains of important ancestrallineages that utilized these subterranean spaces for purposes of primary burial andancestor veneration. The practice of ancestor veneration would account for the adultindividuals, however, the subadults should not logically qualify as ancestors. Thisparticular assessment is beyond the scope of this investigation, but one that warrants itsdue attention in future research. The demographics of these caves do not provide a clearpicture concerning the type(s) of possible depositional activity, however, there isevidence to suggest that the Maya of Dos Pilas granted equal access to both sexes and allage groups. The evidence is not sufficient to substantiate the hypothesis that the remainsdeposited in these caves represent a select group of individuals.Human cut marksThe identification and analysis of cut marks caused by human agents is anotherelement examined in the assessment of the possible depositional activity or activities ofthese caves. As stated in the previous chapter, the morphology and anatomical locationof cut marks represent the key elements examined in the interpretation of the activityresponsible. Direct and indirect human activities may manifest themselves on a skeletalelement as a cut mark. For example, the post-mortem cleaning of a body being