The Dedicated Maya

I went on a hike to Actun Tunichil Muknal, caves discovered in eastern Belize in 1986. To get to ATM you drive about an hour from the town of San Ignacio and then hike for an hour. You then dive into the river flowing out of the cave.

From the cave entrance you hike in your swimsuit helmet, and headlamp, through rocky water. Because it is the rainy season the water levels are high and the caves have been closed often recently. After trudging through this for about an hour you reach the first of the caves that contain remains that the Mayans left from 700 to 900 AD The Mayans traveled hours by foot carrying ceramics which they deposited in the caves. Almost all of these are in fragments because the Maya would chip a piece away at the cave as a symbol of sacrifice.

The Maya also brought people to sacrifice. There are several full and partial skeletons visible in the caves. The belief was that the sacrifices were necessary to appease the gods. Because life originated in caves, sacrifices in caves would bring them closer to the gods. Because the caves were undiscovered until the 80s, the remains are in excellent condition.