Loltun Cave, Prehistoric cave system in Oxkutzcab, Mexico
Loltun Cave is an underground system extending over two kilometers with multiple chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites shaped by water over millennia. Lit pathways guide visitors through these natural limestone formations and passages.
The cave shows evidence of human habitation from around 10,000 years ago, with archaeological finds including stone tools and animal remains. The Maya later used the site for ceremonial purposes and left their own marks within the passages.
The walls display ancient handprints and animal drawings left by the Maya, showing how they connected with this underground space. These marks reveal how people viewed and used the cave as a sacred site.
Wear sturdy shoes as the pathways can be uneven and slippery in certain areas where water drips from above. Group tours typically last a few hours and depart regularly throughout the day.
Inside the cave are natural limestone columns that produce different musical tones when struck, acting like instruments in an underground chamber. Ancient inhabitants may have discovered and used these singing stones for ritual or ceremonial purposes.
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