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survey, the entrance slope does not appear to have beenmodified in any way. Other than drip water, the caveis dry and is likely located well above the water table.Other than a single sherd, the only evidence ofcultural activity was speleothem breakage and removal.This practice was intensive and few speleothems (otherthan soda straws) remain intact. Stalactites were brokenand removed from even the most inaccessiblecrawl spaces throughout the cave. Perhaps this caveenjoyed a similar highly specialized use as is suggestedfor Actun Tsub.4.13: ACTUN KOXOLAMCS Bulletin 12 — Chapter 4 83Actun Koxol (“mosquito cave”) is located 1.7 kmsouthwest of the community of San Antonio Nuevoand approximately 300 m southwest of SA-2. The caveis essentially a 20–25 m deep, roughly horizontal alcoveat the bottom of a very shallow doline. The ceilingof this low room is between 1–2 m high and onlya meter or so beneath the ground surface. Not surprisingly,the cave is dry. Only one sherd was observedand although evidence of speleothem breakage andremoval is present, the cave was probably never richin stalactites and stalagmites.Near the drip line of the alcove is a small enclosureconsisting of flat, vertically set stones. A similarfeature was observed in Actun Zodz and localejidatarios claim that they are old tepezcuintle traps.Actun Koxol is among the least impressive caves inthe survey and likely did not rank high among othercaves in the area.4.14: ACTUN XOOCHActun Xooch (“cave of the hen”) is located approximately1 km west of the community of San Juande Dios. The cave is characterized by an alcove at thebottom of a large circular sinkhole and is the first offive rockshelters described in this chapter. A debrisslope covers the eastern half of the sinkhole. Thisslope, which exhibits evidence of crude terracing, facilitatesan easy descent to the bottom of the sinkhole.Along the western half of the sinkhole is a recessedsemicircular alcove (approximately 25 m wide), thatis sheltered by the sloping ceiling 10 m above.A well-constructed terrace riser consisting of fivecourses of small, undressed stones marks the base ofthe entrance slope. A broad elevated causeway extendsfrom the slope toward the back of the alcove. Here,the causeway connects with a low platform. This featureis 5 m wide (across the front) and extends back4.5 m where it meets the alcove wall. Two steps, whichFigure 4.14.1. Actun Xooch, face pecked into stalagmiticformation.consist of roughly dressed blocks, run the course of theplatform’s frontal portion. Directly above the centerof the platform is a natural shaft through which daylightis visible. Soil and forest litter have washed downthrough this shaft and accumulated on the platform,obscuring what might be resting on its otherwise flatsurface.A number of censer fragments were recoveredfrom the base of the offertory platform (see table 4.14.1for an inventory of the ceramics and Chapter 5 forillustrations). Nearly all were from Late PostclassicChen Mul Modeled effigy censers and included headdressand body elements as well as an ear flare. Threecacao pod elements were recovered. Two were solidwhile one stuccoed and painted pod was hollow. Asmall stuccoed long-nosed face was found as well.Also in the collection is a small bi-conical CehacPainted cup, which probably at one time rested in thehand of a large Chaak effigy censer.To the south of the platform is a simple face thatwas pecked into a dry stalagmitic formation (figure4.14.1). It appears as if exfoliating layers of calcitewhere removed to create a hard, roughly circular areain which to peck the eyes and mouth. To the north ofthe platform are a series of four interconnected stonecircles. They consist of loosely stacked stones andresemble bins or hoppers. These features range fromTable 4.14.1. Actun Xooch ceramic collection.