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searchable PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

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AMCS Bulletin 12 — Chapter 4 41Figure 4.1.8. Actun Toh. View (facing SE) of floor and pathways to operations 5 and 6.roughly 1 m deep. Along the southern wall of operation5 (adjacent to the mine pit) is a large debris pilethat consists of limestone tailings. The material extractedfrom these mines is described in the discussion ofoperation 3.Returning to the main chamber of the Actun Toh,the circuit continues to the north. The pathway passesbetween two prominent stalagmites. At the base ofthe western stalagmite (and barely within the chamberof operation 5) was a scattering of sherds that includeda small jadeite bead. The path winds its wayinto a portion of the cave designated asoperation 4. The destination of the path isa large mine pit. Areas to the sides of thepit are covered with limestone tailings asin operation 5. Along the cave wall, westof the path, is sloping bedrock shelf. Anadditional votive offering was found atopthis shelf or ramp. The cluster consistedof sherds, small stones, and a conch shellfragment. The interior of the shell was inspected<strong>for</strong> paint residue but none waspresent.At the entrance to operation 4, the path<strong>for</strong>ks and crosses the main chamber of thecave. As it approaches the pyramidalstructure, the path passes to the north of asmall porch-like plat<strong>for</strong>m connected to thenorthern slope of the mound. The patheventually meets another path that descends from theback of the pyramidal structure. Here, it leads downinto operation 3, which is characterized by two adjoiningchambers. This route passes between bedrockledges and down two steps be<strong>for</strong>e reaching the mostprominent mine within the cave.The mine chamber measures 7 m at its widest pointand 2.2 m high. Visible along the walls are interbeddedstrata of friable sascab-like material and moreresistant limestone layers (figure 4.1.11). Samples ofthis powdery material were analyzed by Kathy L. RoseFigure 4.1.9. Group of simple carved faces in Actun Toh.

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