searchable PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

58AMCS Bulletin 12 — Chapter 4Table 4.2.2. Actun Tacbi Ha 1999 ceramic collection.of material (excluding the point-plotted lots) was light.It should be mentioned that two whole vesselscurrently residing in the casa ejidal of Naranjal aresaid to be from Actun Tacbi Ha. One of these is anArena Red basal-flange dish with solid button tripodsupports. The other is a miniature, gadrooned, twohandled,Dzitya Black olla, which is similar (in form)to a miniature vessel found in Balankanche (Andrews1970:fig. 54k).Closing RemarksLike Actun Toh, the cave’s difficulty of access andits architectural modification demonstrate that thewater present in Actun Tacbi Ha received special attention.Similarly, the apparent value placed on thesascab-like material is suggested by its remote contextand controlled exploitation. Votive offerings ofsherds and the placement of whole vessels, especiallythe Petkanche Orange Polychrome vase, further markportions of the cave as sacred space. Interestingly,with the exception of the Tacopate olla, no Preclassicmaterial was recovered from the cave. Based on theceramic collections, Actun Tacbi Ha appears to havebeen a site of some importance between the Early Classicand Terminal Classic Periods.4.3: ACTUN TAM HAActun Tam Ha (“cave of the deep water”) lieswithin the ejido of San Francisco but is located 2.5km northeast of El Naranjal. The cave was selectedfor detailed investigation due to its location relativeto dense settlement and alternative water sources, aswell as its proximity to the site of El Naranjal. (Thiswill be discussed in more detail below). Ifirst visited Actun Tam Ha in 1996 and returnedthe following season in order to producea map of the cave. During the 1997season, a partial ceramic collection was recovered.DescriptionThe cave is a single-chambered, 40 m-wide collapsedome, which is similar in morphology to ActunTacbi Ha. The upper floor of the cave is 7 m belowthe entrance shaft in the ceiling. In the center of thecave is a prominent bedrock mound and flowstoneformation. Two stairways lead down from the upperfloor to a large pool below, which lies approximately12 m below the ground surface (see figure 4.3.1 and4.3.2.).The pool encircles approximately 70% of thechamber’s circumference and is over 4 m deep. Thisis the largest pool of any cave in the survey and thepresence of submerged passageways suggests that itis part of a more extensive underwater cavern system.One of the two stairways approaches the pool due eastof the entrance. The path follows a curving series ofsteps set between a bedrock outcrop and the prominentcentral flowstone formation. After reaching alanding, the path descends four low steps to the edgeof the pool.The second stairway descends from the upperfloor, just northeast of the entrance. Here, a path consistingof four broad steps leads to a low wall andfinally reaches the northern terminus of the pool. Betweenthe two stairways is a natural balcony with acommanding view of the pool below. In the center ofthe balcony is a shallow solution feature containing adense concentration of sherds. The southern portionof the cave is characterized by breakdown and collapsedebris. Little to no alteration was observed inthis portion of the cave.In 1997, the floor of the cave pool was surveyedby Julie Bell and me (using mask and snorkel) andTable 4.3.1. Actun Tam Ha ceramic collection.