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AMCS Bulletin 12 — Chapter 7 131Although many of the features within the cavesof the Yalahau region appear to focus attention onwater, there is no reason to assume that the collectionof virgin water, as described by Thompson (1975),singularly characterized ancient Maya cave use in theregion. It is perhaps more reasonable—and consistentwith our increased understanding of Maya cave use—to envision the presence water in caves as creating asacred environment (see Brady and Stone 1986:22;Brady 1989:415 see also Brady 1997a) in which arange of religious activities was conducted.The Cultural Context of Caves in the YalahauRegionThe Yalahau Archaeological Cave Survey focusedparticular attention on the area surrounding the civicceremonialcenter of El Naranjal and the secondarycenter of San Cosmé, which are linked by a 3 kmlongsacbe. These sites and their corresponding plazagroups and rural settlements, are located in the southernmostportion of the Yalahau region. The site coreof El Naranjal, oriented along a roughly north-southaxis, is 1.2 km in length, .4 km in width and contains23 major structures (see Fedick and Taube 1995).Recent studies at El Naranjal suggest that the primaryconstruction episode at the site, as well as its periodof greatest occupation occurred during the LatePreclassic to Early Classic periods. This chronologicalassessment is based on the occurrence of earlyceramic types, the results of radiocarbon assays ofcharcoal samples extracted from construction plaster(Mathews 1998), and the presence of the Megalithicarchitectural style (Mathews 1998; Taube 1995). Anumber of other sites throughout the Yalahau regionalso exhibit evidence of a strong Late Preclassic/EarlyClassic occupation (Mathews 1995; Rissolo 1998a;Taube 1995; see also Fedick et al. 2000). Ceramicsdating to the same period were recovered from theGruta de Xcan (Márquez de González et al. 1982).Located approximately 20 km west of El Naranjal inYucatán, it is the only reported cave site in the vicinityof the Yalahau survey area. The center of ElNaranjal, as well as sites throughout the region, appearto have been abandoned during the Early Classicand later reoccupied during the Late Postclassic(Fedick et al. 2000). This later phase is characterized,in part, by the construction of shrines and stairwayson the ruined monumental architecture of the site(Lorenzen 1995; 1999).By examining caves in-concert with regional archaeologicalinvestigations of surface sites and features,patterns of cave use and the ways in which the Mayainteracted with the landscape can be revealed and moreaccurately portrayed. Simply stated, the wider naturaland cultural systems within which caves exist provideclues as to the nature and meaning of cave activities,the status of the individuals involved, the origin ofthose individuals, and the period during which thoseactivities took place. Conversely, chronological andfunctional data recovered from caves can be integralcomponents in the reconstruction of the ancient social,political, economic, and ideological organizationof surface sites.This was amply demonstrated in the investigationof Actun Toh (see Chapter 4.1). Directly below theentrance shaft of this dome-shaped cave is a roughlypyramidal terraced structure. Although the structureis in an advanced state of disrepair, its well-dressedblocks clearly reflect the Megalithic construction stylecharacteristic of the region’s early occupation. Theterraced slope of the structure in Actun Toh terminatesat a crude altar and artificial floor. One of the pathwaysthat lead away from this floor passes beneath apanel of simple carved faces, and down a stairway toa small, debris-filled pool. This pattern will be discussedin greater detail below.Controlled test excavations were conducted inActun Toh in order to determine the age of the floor.An analysis of the pottery from the deep but apparentlyhomogenous sub-floor construction fill revealsthe presence of such Late Preclassic groups as Tancah,Sierra, Nolo, and Xanabá. Protoclassic to Early Classictypes include Carolina Bichrome Incised and SabánBurdo. The fact that the basal riser of the pyramidalstructure rests atop the floor, and given the structure’sdiagnostic stylistic attributes, it is likely that the architectonicmodification of the cave occurred duringthe Early Classic. Additionally, the presence of chronologicallysensitive types in the sub-floor fill suchas Tituc Orange Polychrome and Cetelac Fiber-temperedfurther restrict the date to the middle part of theEarly Classic (ca. A.D. 450–550, see Ball [1982:108]).Mixed with this later material are sherds from theDzudzuquil group. Middle Preclassic ceramics are allbut absent in the northern portion of the peninsula,including nearby surface sites, but are commonlyfound on the floors of caves in the Yalahau region.Cave ceramics corresponding to the Nabanche complex(see Andrews V 1988) also include Achiote,Chunhinta, Joventud, and Kin. Their presence providesa unique opportunity to examine not only early caveuse, but also the earliest of regional occupations.Late Classic ceramics have yet to be identified inany significant quantity at surface sites, leading to theproposal that the region experienced a long hiatus