Actun Tunichil Muknal, Archaeological cave in San Ignacio, Belize.
Actun Tunichil Muknal is an archaeological cave in San Ignacio, Belize, that stretches nearly three miles through limestone formations and holds underground rivers along with prehistoric chambers filled with ancient artifacts. The system guides visitors through narrow passages and large halls where ceramic vessels and human remains rest on rock formations and cave floors.
Ancient Maya people used this cave heavily between 700 and 900 AD for ceremonies, leaving behind numerous pottery pieces and skeletal remains throughout the chambers. Its use intensified during a major drought when religious rituals increased.
The name translates from Maya as "Cave of the Stone Sepulcher," referring to how bodies and offerings were left in its chambers during ritual ceremonies. Today visitors walk through these same passages where ancient priests performed sacrifices and deposited pottery.
Visitors must book guided tours that involve a 45-minute jungle walk, river crossings, and swimming through the cave while wearing protective gear supplied by licensed operators. The tour requires moderate physical fitness and climbing over smooth wet rocks in dark passages.
The cave holds one of only four Monkey Pots discovered in Central America, making it an exceptional repository of Maya ceremonial artifacts. Photography is not allowed inside to protect the delicate bones and ceramics from light damage.
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