Actun Tunichil Muknal

Actun Tunichil Muknal is a cave to the west of Belize at the Roaring Creek River, south of Teakettle Village.

The limestone cave was discovered in 1989 by Thomas Miller, has an area of approximately five kilometers. Well known is the cave of the archaeological finds of the Mayan civilization, like skeletons, ceramics, and stoneware. In the main chamber 1408 artifacts were identified and cataloged, which originate from the classical times of the Late Präklassik to Late.

As a striking number of found objects - about 400 ceramic vessels - served as a water container, you have come to the conclusion that the cave served ceremonies, which were referred to the water and directed to the rain god Chac. Increased activity is suspected in the period of 800 to 1000, while there was a drought in the area.

Less common are human artifacts. Until now, remains of 14 skeletons were found. Among them were 7 adults and 7 kids (all under 5 years old). It is not, as with findings in the nearby caves to tombs, but sacrifices that should serve to appease the gods or to ask for rain.

Actun Tunichil Muknal was seen by the Maya as Xibalba ( the entrance to the underworld ).

Since 1998, the cave is open for tourism and can be visited with a tour guide. Starting from San Ignacio and Belmopan tours are offered.

Swell

  • Vera Tiesler and Andrea Cucina: New Perspectives on Human Sacrifice and Ritual Body Treatments in Ancient Maya Society, Springer, Berlin 2007, ISBN 978-0-387-48870-7
  • Holley Moyes: The use of GIS in the spatial analysis of an archaeological cave site, Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 64 (1): 9-16, 2002.
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