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

31Unlike the NISPs, the MNI estimates were divided according to three basic levelsof investigation and documentation of the cave. Each cave was subdivided into lots,sub-operations, and operations during fieldwork, where the lot represents the smallestunit and the operation, the largest. These subdivisions are different for each cave, yetthere are certain characteristics used to differentiate between these levels. For instance,large chambers, main passageways, and the openings of caves may represent anoperation. This operation, in turn, may contain several lots represented by naturalfeatures such as restrictive openings, balconies, small alcoves, as well as artificialconstructions and modifications of the natural cave setting, i.e. altars, plastered floors,etc. I calculated MNIs considering bone assemblages as discrete groups at the variouslevels, and in certain cases, I considered the cave as a whole unit. Every cave presenteda unique context whereby different units contained varying amounts of cultural andskeletal material. Natural processes responsible for the formation of a cave’s specificarchaeological record were also considered when calculating the minimum number ofindividuals. These include the proximity of lots to one another, evidence of skeletalmaterial displaced by water or other agents, as well as looting. Consideration of theseissues allow for the most accurate estimation of the minimum number of individualsrepresented by the skeletal material found in each cave.The calculation of the minimum number of individuals for each cave consists oftwo separate estimates: the minimum number of individuals (MNI) and the probablenumber of individuals (PNI). The first estimate, or MNI, is a general calculation thattakes into account the age and sex of the skeletal elements. As stated previously, adults