Mayan Cave of Actun Tunichil Muknal -
Cave of the Crystal Maiden
Friday March 22
We drove back to San
Ignatio, Belize and in the afternoon visited the butterfly farm
where we tried to take pictures of butterflies, but had more
success with these - a Black Orchid and Crabs Claw Heliconia. The
guide also showed us Northern Potoo sleeping in a tree (almost
imposible to see) and a Black and White Warbler.
The Cave
Saturday March 23
Although today's activities were optional, everyone elected to
see the Cave of Actun Tunichil Muknal, a mayan ritual cave which
is still as it was discovered in 1989. Only 2 tour groups are
allowed to take groups into this cave. Apparently, this ensures
the artifacts are not disturbed as the guides are highly trained,
the tourists strictly controlled and looters do not know when a
group may be coming.
We missed young Barb in this picture but the rest of us, from
left to right, back row are: Jason, Martin, Gloria, Carol, Rich
and Andreas, in front, Mike, Lorna peeking out from behind Barb,
Bill behind Crystal, and Luc.
We then stepped down into the water and swam into the cave
through the opening. We walked and swam about a km until we
reached "the elevator" - a large rock that gave us
access to a higher level where the sacrificial ceremonies were
conducted.
The offertory pots "killed" to let out their spirits
and arranged in groupings of upright, on side or upside down to
indicate, retaining, flowing and giving.
This is the skull of a young man (nicknamed Harry by our guide)
from around 700 A.D.
We crossed 'the land of ouch' (we were in bare or stocking feet
at this point to protect the artifacts) and came to some
skeletons of youths who had been ritually sacrificed by breaking
their hips and limbs etc. while still alive and eventually having
their skulls mashed. Nice crowd!
Then we climbed this ladder and came to this intact skeleton of a
young woman who showed no signs of such treatment. Archaeologists
have no idea why she was there.
