searchable PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

12AMCS Bulletin 12ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSPermission to conduct research was granted bythe Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia(INAH) and was graciously facilitated by JoaquínGarcía-Bárcena, acting president of the Consejo deArqueología. Assistance with the permit process wasprovided by Adriana Velázquez Morlet, director ofCentro INAH Quintana Roo, and María José ConUribe. It was a privilege to work under two such capableand dedicated scholars. My analysis at theCeramoteca of Centro INAH Yucatán was made possibleby Alfredo Barrera Rubio, Sylviane Boucher, andYoly Palomo. I am especially grateful to Sylviane andYoly for sharing with me their extensive knowledgeof Maya pottery. I would also like to thank the followingINAH archaeologists for their support and for contributingto the successful completion of my dissertationresearch: Eunice Uc González, Fernando RoblesCastellanos, Peter Schmidt, Guillermo Ahuja, EnriqueTerrones, Luis Leira, Carlos Peraza, and CuauhtemocFernando Garcés. A special thanks goes to Luis AlbertoMartos López for taking an early interest in my researchand for his continued support and advice.I offer my sincerest gratitude and appreciationto the people of Naranjal, who made my manymonths of living and working in the community a trulyenriching experience. I would especially like to thankClaudio Cupul Chi for tirelessly negotiating on mybehalf and skillfully arranging my trips to the caves. Iextend my thanks to the entire Cupul May family fortheir warmth, hospitality, and continued friendship.Many individuals from the ejidos on which Iworked guided me to the caves, assisted in the research,and shared with me their knowledge and wisdom. Thisdissertation is a direct result of their involvement andtherefore I am pleased to acknowledge the efforts ofeach individual. From Naranjal: Eleuterio Tun Balam,Pedro Cupul Chi, Luis Tun Balam, Narciso MasumHuitzil, Liberato Mazum Sánchez, Feliciano TunBalam, Donato Tun Balam, Enrique Cupul Chi, JulianAyala Cu, Ignacio Cupul Balam, Pascual Mazum Noh,José Cupul May, Marcelino Cupul May, VenancioCupul May, Gregorio Tun Cupul, and Manuel TunCupul. In San Juan de Dios: Gregorio Dzul Cohuo,Daniel Dzul Cohuo, Ramón Balam Quetzal, FelipeEstrella Dzul, Jorge Estrella Dzul, Martiñano CahunBalam, Reymundo Tsub Uh. I would especially liketo thank Eligio Cahuich Bacab for his friendship andearnest support, and Marcelino Dzul Cahuich for accompanyingme on my seemingly endless trips toActun Toh. In Kantunilkin: Fidel Baas Chuc, CarlosPoot Pech, Jorge Cab Canul, and Beningino Cab Ek.And finally, in San Francisco, Severiano Colon Puc.With these individuals, a cave was not just a destination,it was an educational journey and I feel privilegedto have learned so much about their world.My dissertation research was supported in part bygrants from the Cave Research Foundation and theNational Speleological Society, two consecutive UCRHumanities Graduate Student Research Grants, a UCRGraduate Dean’s Dissertation Research Grant, and agenerous grant from the Anders Foundation. Followupwork at the Ceramoteca was made possible througha UC MEXUS Small Grant awarded to Scott L.Fedick. My graduate career at UCR was supported byfellowships from the Department of Anthropology. Iwould like to thank Ruth Douglas, Judy Corbett, JuanVicente Palerm, Andrea Kaus, Rick Toomey, ChrisGroves, and Gayle and Carl Nuffer for creating or facilitatingthese funding opportunities. Field accommodationsand additional support were graciously andgenerously provided by Gastón Alegre López andMichael Baker.If not for Scott Fedick, my main advisor, I wouldhave never found my place in the forests and caves ofQuintana Roo. Our chance meeting in Belize has ledto a lasting friendship and I look forward to callinghim a close and trusted colleague. Scott has neverwavered in his enthusiasm and support, and his highacademic standards serve as a model I can only hopeto follow in the future. I am fortunate to have studiedunder Karl Taube. His gift of insight and breadth ofknowledge are truly astounding. I am indebted to Karlfor introducing me to the communities in which I livedand worked and for providing guidance and advicethroughout the course of my research. I would like tothank Michael Kearney for sharing his experience asan ethnographer. I have the greatest respect for hiswork. I am eternally grateful to James Brady. It can be