searchable PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

40AMCS Bulletin 12 — Chapter 4is a low, artificial debris mound. Its originand purpose are unclear, although it mightrepresent the accumulation of mine tailingsfrom operation 5 or debris from the possibleancient clearing or excavation ofthe area designated as operation 7. It is interestingto note that sherds from the baseof this mound can be seen eroding into alow crawl space in operation 6 that passesbeneath it. Once inside the chamber of operation5, the path diverges in three directions.The short path to the northeast arrivesat a series of natural shelves along the cavewall, atop of which were placed small votiveofferings. A total of four discrete clustersof sherds and artifacts were plotted andrecovered (see lot descriptions in the followingsection). One such cluster includedsherds that ranged from Late Preclassic toLate Classic in age. Also among these clusterswere lithic fragments and a calcitecrystal. These offerings are likely the resultof either sherds that were deposited inthe same location during successive tripsto the cave or random sherds that weregathered from the cave floor and subsequentlydeposited as small offertory clusters.A human temporal bone was recoveredalong the northwestern boundary of theshort path. It represents the only humanbone observed during the course of thesurvey; however, few inferences can bemade due to its apparent lack of associationwith other remains.The southeastern path leads into asmall room, which is flanked by flowstoneformations and a small column. A numberof sherds were collected from this lowroom; however, no apparent offerings wereobserved. At the terminus of the chamber’smain path, is a mine pit. This mine, one ofthree in Actun Toh, is 2.5 m wide andTop: Figure 4.1.5. Terraced structure inActun Toh. Note floor and eroding sub-floorconstruction fill (lower left-hand corner.)Also note stairway leading down intooperation 7 (foreground).Middle: Figure 4.1.6. Terraced structure inActun Toh, frontal view. Note altar.Bottom: Figure 4.1.7. Altar in Actun Toh.