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86AMCS Bulletin 12 — Chapter 4the natural shaft above the flowstone formationintrigued ancient visitors to thecave. The smoke of censers placed beneathit could have risen up into the shaft andemerged outside the alcove, creating aunique spectacle. As in Actun Zodz andActun Xux (described below) haltuneswere used to collect drip water which wasvalued for its pure and sacred qualities.4.17: ACTUN XUXFigure 4.16.2. Detail map of Actun Maas.itself. It is conceivable that the figure was removedfrom the alcove in the recent past. This would alsoexplain why the pedestal base was incomplete, sincethe portion of the base to which the figure’s legs wereattached was removed with the rest of the body.Earlier ceramic material was recovered from thealcove as well. Such types include Late PreclassicChancenote Striated and Late Classic to Terminal ClassicYaxuná Striated-preslate and Tekax Black-on-red.Cluster A was the only significant concentration ofnon-Chen Mul Modeled sherds and was located adjacentto the offertory feature.Discussion and Closing RemarksThe ceremonial function of Actun Maas is clearlyindicated by the presence of censers, and the alcovelikely served as an offertory site as early as the LatePreclassic. As is the case in Actun Zodz, a prominentcave formation was the focus in this otherwise dryrockshelter. This formation is culturally marked notonly by the stone feature beneath it, but also by thevessels that were at one time placed around it. PerhapsActun Xux (“cave of the wasps”) is arockshelter located approximately 1 kmsouth of the community of Ignacio Zaragoza.A crude stairway leads down to thefloor of an 11 m-wide shallow doline orsinkhole, which contains alcoves along itseastern periphery (see figure 4.17.1). Evidenceof minor terracing is also presentacross the entrance slope. The deepest alcoveextends 3 m into the wall of thesinkhole. Here, two haltunes were placedbeneath the drip line (figure 4.17.2). Oneof these receptacles has a low stalagmiticformation that corresponds to a cluster ofstalactite stumps and soda straws above. Alarge drapery or cluster of stalactites appearsto have been originally located abovethe haltunes as well but has since been brokenoff.A 4 m-deep vertical shaft, which is surrounded bya crude collar of stones, punctuates the floor of themain alcove. Two, roughly horizontal passages extendfrom the bottom of the shaft. This portion of ActunXux was not explored since I did not have the propergear on hand during my brief visit to the site.Along the back wall of the main alcove is a pileof stones. The majority of these stones have remainedin place for some time owing to their thick coating ofalgae. Other stones are bright white and appear to havebeen placed there recently. A local guide speculatedthat someone might have attempted to reshape the pileinto a tepezcuintle trap. A similar activity took placewithin a shallow alcove along the northern portion ofthe sinkhole. Here, a low dry-stone wall extends 2 mto the back of the alcove. Adjacent to this features is alarge, almost hallow, dome-shaped pile of stones andan additional low wall. All three features contain morerecent additions of large undressed blocks of stone.Although the original function of these stone featuresis unclear, local ejidatarios could offer no other explanationother than traps. A low circle of stones was

also observed in this small alcove, but didnot appear to have been altered in any way.Actun Xux was no doubt a favorable(albeit limited) speleothem collection sitein the past. Countless stumps of small stalactitesare visible across the ceiling. Onlya few sherds were observed on the cavefloor. Many are no doubt obscured by theaccumulation of soil, forest litter, and batguano that covers the majority of the alcovefloor. As is the case with mostrockshelter sites, their ease of access andilluminated environs facilitates casuallooting.AMCS Bulletin 12 — Chapter 4 874.18: ACTUN NA IN-TATICHActun Na in-Tatich (“cave of the house of mygrandfather”) is a dry rockshelter site located 1.4 kmsouthwest of the community of San Antonio Nuevoand 3 km west of the site of San Cosme. This caveclosely resembles Actun Maas and Actun Xux in termsof morphology. However, a deep, continuous alcoveencircles the entire periphery of the sinkhole. Accessinto the sinkhole requires the negotiation of a 3 m dropfrom the overhanging lip.The mound beneath the entrance appears to havebeen modified and sections of retaining walls or terracesare visible under the vegetation and forest litter.In the western portion of the alcove is a recessedarea, which is flanked by two, now-dry flowstoneFigure 4.17.2. Haltunes in Actun Xux.Figure 4.17.1. Profile of Actun Xux.formations and vaguely demarcated by a line of stones.A tiny portal in the back wall of the alcove leads to anopen yet inaccessible cavity. According to the localguides who accompanied me, this miniature “cavewithin a cave” is said to be the home of an alux(goblin).Other than dry-stone masonry, no evidence of culturalactivity was observed. Unfortunately, my visitto the cave was brief and I did not have the opportunityto conduct a more detailed investigation. The surfacesof such rockshelters are often obscured and onlyby clearing them of vegetation and debris can oneobtain a more complete picture of the archaeology.4.19: CAVE N-3 (UNNAMED)This tiny cave is located 40–50 m west of ActunZodz. It is essentially a dry, roughly circularrockshelter measuring 3 m in diameter and 1.5 m fromfloor to ceiling. The broad, arching entrance providesFigure 4.19.1. Sketch ofcross image from N-3 Cave.

also observed in this small alcove, but didnot appear to have been altered in any way.Actun Xux was no doubt a favorable(albeit limited) speleothem collection sitein the past. Countless stumps of small stalactitesare visible across the ceiling. Onlya few sherds were observed on the cavefloor. Many are no doubt obscured by theaccumulation of soil, <strong>for</strong>est litter, and batguano that covers the majority of the alcovefloor. As is the case with mostrockshelter sites, their ease of access andilluminated environs facilitates casuallooting.AMCS Bulletin 12 — Chapter 4 874.18: ACTUN NA IN-TATICHActun Na in-Tatich (“cave of the house of mygrandfather”) is a dry rockshelter site located 1.4 kmsouthwest of the community of San Antonio Nuevoand 3 km west of the site of San Cosme. This caveclosely resembles Actun Maas and Actun Xux in termsof morphology. However, a deep, continuous alcoveencircles the entire periphery of the sinkhole. Accessinto the sinkhole requires the negotiation of a 3 m dropfrom the overhanging lip.The mound beneath the entrance appears to havebeen modified and sections of retaining walls or terracesare visible under the vegetation and <strong>for</strong>est litter.In the western portion of the alcove is a recessedarea, which is flanked by two, now-dry flowstoneFigure 4.17.2. Haltunes in Actun Xux.Figure 4.17.1. Profile of Actun Xux.<strong>for</strong>mations and vaguely demarcated by a line of stones.A tiny portal in the back wall of the alcove leads to anopen yet inaccessible cavity. According to the localguides who accompanied me, this miniature “cavewithin a cave” is said to be the home of an alux(goblin).Other than dry-stone masonry, no evidence of culturalactivity was observed. Un<strong>for</strong>tunately, my visitto the cave was brief and I did not have the opportunityto conduct a more detailed investigation. The surfacesof such rockshelters are often obscured and onlyby clearing them of vegetation and debris can oneobtain a more complete picture of the archaeology.4.19: CAVE N-3 (UNNAMED)This tiny cave is located 40–50 m west of ActunZodz. It is essentially a dry, roughly circularrockshelter measuring 3 m in diameter and 1.5 m fromfloor to ceiling. The broad, arching entrance providesFigure 4.19.1. Sketch ofcross image from N-3 <strong>Cave</strong>.

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