Description of the attraction
Located in the Cayo area, Aktun-Tunichil-Muknal Cave was discovered in 1989. It was explored between 1993 and 1999 by a team of archaeologists from Belize and the United States.
Today Aktun-Tunichil-Muknal is a living museum. This is one of the few places among the Mayan monuments where artifacts that are more than a thousand years old have been preserved, and they can be seen not in museum windows.
The length of Aktun-Tunichil-Muknal is about five kilometers, it contains a stream that flows through the main passage of the cave. The main entrance to the cave resembles double Gothic arches with a beautiful dark blue pool in front of them. The southern entrance is at the other end of the cave.
Like most places like this, the Belize cave was formed in the outer karst limestone foothills. Archaeological research has established that the first visits of the Maya people to this place date back to 300 to 600 AD. NS.
The largest room in the cave is the Cathedral. It is located about one kilometer from the entrance. In this large hall with sparkling stalactites and stalagmites, there are the remains of 14 people, about 150 ceramic vessels, and several ground stone artifacts. Of the 14 skeletons in the cell: six children under three years old, one child about seven years old, and the remaining seven are adults between the ages of 20 and 50. One of the female skeletons is covered with sparkling travertine, for which it was named "The Crystal Girl". Most of the skulls were damaged, none of the remains were buried, indicating that they were sacrificed.
More than 80% of the pottery in Aktun-Tunichil-Muknal is large jugs and bowls, and almost all of them are broken. Scientists suggest that food was stored in these vessels. In different parts of the cave, archaeologists have found pots with organic remains of corn, chili, cocoa and butter. Grain grinders and hoes were also found.
In the Mayan religion, the Aktun-Tunichil-Muknal cave was considered one of the portals to Xibalba (the underworld) and was used to appease the dark gods. Aktun-Tunichil-Muknal is located on the territory of the Mount Tapira nature reserve, accessible to visitors only when accompanied by guides from licensed travel agencies.
