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

62estimates indicate that Cueva de El Duende probably has a skeletal samplerepresentative of three to 16 individuals. Due to the small sample size, the MNIs at thelevel of the lot and suboperation may not be as accurate as the estimates at the level ofthe operation and the entire cave. If the additional skeletal material reported by Wright(unpublished notes 1994) is factored into the MNI estimates, the number of individualsincreases slightly: the operation accounts for nine individuals, and the cave representsfive individuals.Cueva de Río El DuendeCueva de Río El Duende runs directly underneath the main ceremonial structureof Dos Pilas – the pyramid of El Duende. The cave is accessible through two knownentrances. The entrance on the eastern end is larger than the small entrance pit locatedon the western end. Judging by the amount of skeletal material recovered from theeastern half of the cave and the larger size of the eastern entrance, it is clear that amajority of the depositional activity occurred in this portion of the cave. Evidence ofwater activity in the cave may have also played a role in the under-representation ofskeletal material in the western half of the cave. If the water flowed in an easterlydirection, then the accumulation of skeletal material at the eastern end of the cave mayhave been a result of this fluvial activity. However, we cannot disregard the activity ofhuman and animal agents in the possible displacement of the skeletal material.The second largest deposit of skeletal remains recovered from these caves wassurface collected primarily from the eastern half of Cueva de Río El Duende. Thedeposit recovered from this cave contains 349 skeletal elements, including material left