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

51resumed during the 1993 field season when efforts were focused on a survey of thesurface site, continued cave mapping, and archaeological sampling. The cave is situatedbeneath a surface site consisting of various mound structures and linear constructions.Small platforms and plaza groups with karst features are also associated with this site. A1 x 1 m test pit was excavated in the central area of the surface site where 101 ceramicsherds were recovered (Scott 1994b:542). Archaeological efforts then focused on theeight operations that were conducted within the cave.Cueva de Kaxon Pec was accessed through three entrances. Entrance 1 issituated at the base of the escarpment south of the surface site. This aperture isapproximately 8 m wide and 1.5 m high. An arroyo located outside the cave openingmay point to possible water activity during the rainy season (Scott 1994b:542). Thesecond cave entrance was not archaeologically investigated. Entrance 3 is located 2 kmeast of entrance 1. An extensive investigation of the third entrance was conductedduring the 1993 field season along with the further exploration of the cave.Most of the exploration and investigation of the cave was concentrated in theeight operations. All the artifactual and skeletal material recovered from theseoperations was surface collected. Lots were established in order to maintain somehorizontal provenience within each operation (Scott 1994b:543). The first fiveoperations (CKP2-CKP6) constitute the dry portion of the cave. An abundance ofceramic material associated with an array of various non-ceramic artifacts wererecovered from throughout this portion of the cave. An analysis of the ceramic materialillustrated the use of the cave during the Preclassic period, possibly before the rise of