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

55deflocculent technique used in two of the excavated operations in Cueva de Sangre as aform of excavation. The skeletal samples surface collected from Cueva de Río ElDuende, Cueva de Sangre and Cueva de Kaxon Pec contained high frequencies of larger,more robust elements such as long bones and cranial material. Smaller elements such asbones of the hands and feet, ribs, and vertebral material are rare in these particularsamples. This may be the effect of a specific recovery method or a particulardepositional activity. It would appear that a basic surface collection has the potential toproduce a biased sample, whereas an excavation may provide a more representativesample. This archaeological issue represents one of many factors that must beconsidered in an accurate interpretation of the agents responsible for the deposition ofhuman remains in these caves.TABLE 1. Caves of the Petexbatun and their respective recovery methods.CaveCueva de El DuendeRecovery MethodexcavationCueva de Río El Duendesurface collectionCueva de Río MurciélagosCueva de SangreCueva de Kaxon Pecexcavationsurface collection/excavationsurface collectionCueva de Los Quetzalesexcavation