Massive Ancient Underwater Caves Reveal Ancient Mayan Relics

Archaeologists who have been exploring the world's largest underwater cave, recently discovered in Mexico, presented their findings Monday, including fossils of giant sloths and an elaborate shrine to the Mayan god of commerce, reports phys.org.

Credit Image: The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).


Researchers discovered last month that two large networks of underwater caves in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, the cave system known as Sac Actun, once measured at 263 km (163 miles), and in fact connected with the 83 km- (52 km-) Dos Ojos system forming the largest such structure on Earth.

Diving with SCUBA gear, they have been exploring the ancient relics left in the caves over the millennia, in a project sponsored by Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

Researchers believe the water level in the caves has fluctuated over time, and that they were a source of water in times of severe drought, a sometimes perilous one.

Some of the animals and humans who ventured inside never made it out alive. Today, their remains are a treasure trove for scientists, enabling them to piece together bits of the cave's history dating all the way back to the Pleistocene epoch (2.6 million to 11,700 years ago).

The animal remains include gomphotheres, an extinct elephant-like animal, as well as giant sloths and bears.

Credit Images: The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). 


Then there are the artifacts left inside by humans: burnt human bones, ceramics, wall etchings and more. Many others of the hundreds of sink-holes that connect to the cave have elaborate signs of ritual activity around them.

The ancient Mayans viewed caves, and especially ones that led to water, as extremely sacred places.

Views: 185

Have questions?

Need help? Visit our Support Group for help from our friendly Admins and members!

Have you?

Become a Member
Invited Your Friends
Made new Friends
Read/ Written a Blog
Joined/ Created a Group
Read/ Posted a Discussion
Checked out the Chat
Looked at/Posted Videos
Made a donation this month
Followed us on Twitter
Followed us on Facebook

Donations & Sponsorship

~~~~~~~~~~~
Please consider a donation to help with our continued growth and site costs

Connect

Visit The Temple
on Facebook:

....

Blog Posts

888 -vs- 666

Posted by FRA .*. DISTURABO .*. on September 1, 2025 at 7:43pm 0 Comments

NEO SLAVERY

Posted by FRA .*. DISTURABO .*. on September 1, 2025 at 7:36pm 0 Comments

THE THREE CITY STATES

Posted by FRA .*. DISTURABO .*. on August 31, 2025 at 6:33pm 0 Comments

No Lie

Posted by Heth Lee (李) on August 30, 2025 at 7:30am 0 Comments

the Covenant

Posted by Heth Lee (李) on August 23, 2025 at 1:00pm 0 Comments

COMET OR SPACESHIP?

Posted by Sky a.k.a. JD Aeon on August 19, 2025 at 4:30pm 0 Comments

Gaia's Coming Rage

Posted by Bill Walker on August 5, 2025 at 12:12am 1 Comment

FLEET OF LIGHT!

Posted by Rosey Cross on July 18, 2025 at 5:07pm 0 Comments

Perdition

Posted by Heth Lee (李) on July 13, 2025 at 12:30am 0 Comments

RICO

Posted by Heth Lee (李) on July 11, 2025 at 6:00pm 0 Comments

Death Wish

Posted by Heth Lee (李) on July 11, 2025 at 6:30am 0 Comments

What Is an Earth Angel?

Posted by Bill Walker on July 7, 2025 at 7:13pm 0 Comments

NOVEMBER AWARENESS

© 2025   Created by Bryan   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service