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AMCS Bulletin 12 — Chapter 4 85To the southeast of the Operation 1 isa smaller alcove (Operation 2). Here, ahaltun was positioned beneath the drip line.The floor of the small chamber was thoroughlysurvey but no pottery was observed.Similarly, the small alcove (Operation 3)located across the sinkhole was devoid ofany cultural material.Lot DescriptionsFigure 4.16.1. Map and profile of Actun Maas.flowstone formation. Beneath this formation andagainst the back wall of the alcove is an artificialpavement of stones that encircle a small cleared area.Directly above the flowstone formation is a naturalchimney-like shaft that turns 90 degrees and exits at apoint along the wall of the sinkhole above the alcove’sdrip line (see profile in figure 4.16.1). Additionally, anarrow horizontal niche extends into the alcove walldirectly behind the flowstone formation. A substantialdry-stone wall partly encloses the alcove. The ceramicdeposits found within the alcove are discussed below.A total of eight sherd clusters or concentrationswere point-plotted and collectedin the main alcove (see figure 4.16.2). Allappear to be associated with the flowstoneformation and the possible offertoryfeature located beneath it. The remainingsherds scattered across the floor wereassigned to arbitrary lots, which were measuredradially (in 1 m intervals) from theoffertory feature. Though the alcove flooris essentially free of soil and forest litter,it is possible that a number of sherds wereobscured by the layer of loose rubble andwere therefore overlooked. All the materialcollected is tabulated in table 4.16.1.Clusters E, F, G, and H consist almostentirely of Chen Mul Modeled effigy censerfragments (see chapter 5 for illustrations).Partial reconstructions suggest that thecollection represents at least one, but possiblytwo, censers. Censer elements andcomponents include an ear spool, triangularappendages, a complete intermediate base, and anearly complete pedestal base. An isolated rim sherdfound near cluster F likely belonged to the samecenser(s). Similarly, the five sherds in cluster H formthe rim-to-basal-break of the same censer(s) and maycorrespond to the isolated rim sherd. The large rimsection from cluster H is interesting in that a thicklayer of carbonized material (perhaps copal residue)is adhered to the interior surface. The exterior exhibitsareas of well-preserved stucco and blue pigment(as does the ear spool). Entirely absent is the effigyTable 4.16.1. Actun Maas ceramic collection.