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

88calculated an MNI at the level of the entire cave. The entire skeletal sample can beaccounted for by nine individuals – six adults and three subadults.The PNI estimates for this sample produced slightly larger numbers than theMNI estimates. An estimate at the level of the lot/suboperation rendered six moreindividuals (five adults and a subadult) than the MNI estimate, for a total of 32individuals (Table 10). The discrepancies between the MNI and PNI estimates areconsistent throughout the other levels. At the level of the operation, there is a differenceof seven individuals between the estimates. Six additional adults in Operation CKP2and one more in Operation CKP9 increased the total to 21 individuals at the level of theoperation. The number of subadults for both MNIs is identical with three individuals.An estimate at the level of the cave also produced an interesting discrepancy between theMNIs and PNIs. The MNI is nine individuals, whereas the more precise PNI is nearlydouble that figure - 19 individuals. The major difference is in the identification of nineadditional adults in the PNI estimate. According to these PNI estimates, Cueva deKaxon Pec has a skeletal sample representative of 19 to 32 individuals.Cueva de Los QuetzalesCueva de Los Quetzales is the only cave not connected to the extensive cavesystem associated with the site of Dos Pilas. However, the artifactual and skeletalmaterial excavated from this small cave demonstrates its importance during the Mayaoccupancy of the area. A total of 40 skeletal elements were excavated from Cueva deLos Quetzales. Thirty percent of the sample (12 elements) consists of teeth (Figure 13).Bones of the feet also occur in relatively higher frequencies than other skeletal elements.