* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Monday, June 2, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Rising stars: Young classical musicians surging on social media – Yahoo

    Meet the Next Generation of Classical Music Sensations Making Waves on Social Media!

    Devin Harjes Dies: ‘Manifest’ & ‘Boardwalk Empire’ Actor Was 41 – WyomingNews.com

    Tragic Loss: Devin Harjes, Star of ‘Manifest’ and ‘Boardwalk Empire,’ Passes Away at 41

    Why Starz Entertainment Stock Soared Today – The Motley Fool

    Unpacking the Surge: What Fueled Starz Entertainment’s Stock Explosion Today!

    Unveiling the Enigmatic: First Looks at Destruction and Puck in ‘The Sandman

    Jackie Chan Reveals This Family Member ‘Never Watched’ The Whole Of Any Of His Movies – Yahoo

    Jackie Chan Reveals This Family Member ‘Never Watched’ The Whole Of Any Of His Movies – Yahoo

    Mavs CEO holds firm on new arena, entertainment district in Dallas – Dallas News

    Mavs CEO Stands Strong on Vision for New Arena and Entertainment District in Dallas

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Prosecutors accuse men of exporting U.S. military technology to China – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    Men Charged with Illegally Exporting U.S. Military Technology to China

    ROLAND’S NEW WIRELESS TRIGGER TECHNOLOGY, PORTER & DAVIES ON TOUR, NEW 64 AUDIO ASPIRE UNIVERSAL IEM MODELS, WAVES FREE PLUGIN PACK – Modern Drummer Magazine

    ROLAND’S NEW WIRELESS TRIGGER TECHNOLOGY, PORTER & DAVIES ON TOUR, NEW 64 AUDIO ASPIRE UNIVERSAL IEM MODELS, WAVES FREE PLUGIN PACK – Modern Drummer Magazine

    This giant microwave may change the future of war – MIT Technology Review

    Revolutionizing Warfare: The Impact of a Game-Changing Giant Microwave

    Bajeed Pattan Joins Forbes Technology Council as Innovation Leader – PRWeb

    Bajeed Pattan Takes the Helm as Innovation Leader at Forbes Technology Council!

    Lafayette Regional Technology Council – Tech Leadership That’s Homegrown and Future-Focused – Discover Lafayette

    Lafayette Regional Technology Council – Tech Leadership That’s Homegrown and Future-Focused – Discover Lafayette

    Drone technology demo in Cambria County showcases future of lifesaving medical deliveries – local21news.com

    Revolutionizing Healthcare: Drone Technology Takes Flight for Lifesaving Medical Deliveries in Cambria County

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Rising stars: Young classical musicians surging on social media – Yahoo

    Meet the Next Generation of Classical Music Sensations Making Waves on Social Media!

    Devin Harjes Dies: ‘Manifest’ & ‘Boardwalk Empire’ Actor Was 41 – WyomingNews.com

    Tragic Loss: Devin Harjes, Star of ‘Manifest’ and ‘Boardwalk Empire,’ Passes Away at 41

    Why Starz Entertainment Stock Soared Today – The Motley Fool

    Unpacking the Surge: What Fueled Starz Entertainment’s Stock Explosion Today!

    Unveiling the Enigmatic: First Looks at Destruction and Puck in ‘The Sandman

    Jackie Chan Reveals This Family Member ‘Never Watched’ The Whole Of Any Of His Movies – Yahoo

    Jackie Chan Reveals This Family Member ‘Never Watched’ The Whole Of Any Of His Movies – Yahoo

    Mavs CEO holds firm on new arena, entertainment district in Dallas – Dallas News

    Mavs CEO Stands Strong on Vision for New Arena and Entertainment District in Dallas

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Prosecutors accuse men of exporting U.S. military technology to China – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    Men Charged with Illegally Exporting U.S. Military Technology to China

    ROLAND’S NEW WIRELESS TRIGGER TECHNOLOGY, PORTER & DAVIES ON TOUR, NEW 64 AUDIO ASPIRE UNIVERSAL IEM MODELS, WAVES FREE PLUGIN PACK – Modern Drummer Magazine

    ROLAND’S NEW WIRELESS TRIGGER TECHNOLOGY, PORTER & DAVIES ON TOUR, NEW 64 AUDIO ASPIRE UNIVERSAL IEM MODELS, WAVES FREE PLUGIN PACK – Modern Drummer Magazine

    This giant microwave may change the future of war – MIT Technology Review

    Revolutionizing Warfare: The Impact of a Game-Changing Giant Microwave

    Bajeed Pattan Joins Forbes Technology Council as Innovation Leader – PRWeb

    Bajeed Pattan Takes the Helm as Innovation Leader at Forbes Technology Council!

    Lafayette Regional Technology Council – Tech Leadership That’s Homegrown and Future-Focused – Discover Lafayette

    Lafayette Regional Technology Council – Tech Leadership That’s Homegrown and Future-Focused – Discover Lafayette

    Drone technology demo in Cambria County showcases future of lifesaving medical deliveries – local21news.com

    Revolutionizing Healthcare: Drone Technology Takes Flight for Lifesaving Medical Deliveries in Cambria County

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

Tour the Maya underworld in these Belizean caves—if you dare

October 28, 2023
in Science
Tour the Maya underworld in these Belizean caves—if you dare
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

ByAli Wunderman

Published October 27, 2023

• 7 min read

For many, the concept of Hell exists in another dimension. But in Belize, the entrance to the underworld is right below your feet. The small Central American nation is home to hundreds of caves, many of which visitors can explore. But they are more than just a place to go cave diving. These caves are said to be the pathway to Xibalba, or the Maya underworld. 

Cave tourism is one of Belize’s top activities, allowing travelers to explore Maya mythology and culture. A tremendous amount of effort has gone into opening various caves to make them accessible to visitors. However, archaeologists have barely tapped what’s beneath the surface. Here’s how to explore these eerie portals to the Maya underworld.

A caving wonderland

Xibalba (chee-bal-ba), meaning “place of fear,” was significant in ancient Maya culture. The Popol Vuh, the book of creation of the Q’eqchi’ people, described it as a court existing below the Earth’s surface, where the Maya death gods reigned supreme, and a crossroads of the living and the dead. According to Holley Moyes, a professor of archaeology at University of California, Merced and National Geographic Explorer, historians are still speculating on why ancient civilizations saw caves as portals to the underworld. 

“We do know that as early on as the Neanderthals, people were buried in the dark zones of caves in what we speculate might be some sort of bear-related cult,” says Moyes. “Think about it. What do bears do in winter? Hibernate in caves. They appear to be dead. Then they wake up and go about their business, so possibly ancient people saw this as a type of resurrection.”

The gods controlled every aspect of Maya life, from the weather (Chac) to the harvest (Hun Hunahpu) and even dictated one’s mate (Ixchel). The region’s first inhabitants would enter the caverns for important rituals like burial, bloodletting, and sacrifice. Archaeologists are still finding evidence of these practices today.

(Who were the Maya? Decoding the ancient civilization’s secrets.)

One of Belize’s more popular cave experiences is Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) in western Belize, near San Ignacio. The Maya consider the ATM, meaning Cave of the Stone Sepulchre, a sacred location. The cavern safeguards the bones of 13 men, women, children, and the famous “Crystal Maiden,” who was thought to be a sacrifice. Decades of weathering and calcification gave the skeleton’s surface a gem-like appearance. Several other Maya artifacts and remains are completely calcified to the cave floor. In 2012, photography and video were banned to protect the artifacts.

Miguel Choco, a Q’eqchi’ Maya tour guide for The Lodge at Chaa Creek, says visiting Xibalba is key to understanding ancient Maya and their history. “It is vital to learn about the [context] of the ceremonial activities in the caves and why they concluded with human sacrifice,” he says, which usually happened when drought, infertility, and famine ravaged the population.

Choco adds that taking visitors to the caves allows him to share Maya history and how its legacy is not limited to the past. “The world must know we are still maintaining as much of the culture as possible,” he says.

(See rare footage of this ancient Maya sacrificial cave in Belize.)  

In fact, more than 11 percent of Belize’s population are Indigenous Mopan, Yucatec, and Q’eqchi’ Maya people. Many of them continue to practice ancient traditions, speak Mayan languages, and subscribe to mythologies passed down over the generations. 

How to explore the Maya underworld

It’s hard not to feel the presence of something ancient and meaningful when entering a Belizean cave, even those without visible skeletons. In central Belize, visitors can take a guided canoe cruise or swim into the underworld at Barton Creek Cave, the longest subterranean grotto in the nation. Pottery shards, jewelry, and the remains of at least 28 individuals ranging from children to adults have been found inside the 10 natural ledges, once a ceremonial site.

(Take a 360° panorama tour of one of the world’s largest caves in Vietnam.)

However, with only four miles of the cave mapped so far and several more to be explored, who knows what other relics remain. Archaeological work is still ongoing inside the cave, slowly revealing important clues to the downfall of the mighty civilization that once ruled from modern Mexico all the way down to El Salvador.

Not all of Belize’s caves come with outright tales of death, but they can still send a chill up the spine. Located about an hour away from the capital of Belmopan, the Caves Branch River flows through 19 caves of Nohoch Che’en, a popular tubing destination. The 1 1⁄2-hour floating tour takes travelers past towering stalactites and preserved Maya paintings on the ceilings.

(Here are 10 sacred caves around the world.)

At specific points along the journey, tubers enter pitch black areas. Headlamps are provided, but embracing the darkness is the best way to see the caves as the ancient Maya did.

Ali Wunderman is an award-winning freelance travel journalist focusing on wildlife, sustainability, and outdoor adventure. Follow her on Instagram and X. 

The National Geographic Society, committed to illuminating and protecting the wonders of our world, funded Holley Moyes’s work. Learn more about the Society’s support of explorers.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : National Geographic – https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/ancient-maya-underworld-belizean-caves

Tags: Belizeanscienceunderworld
Previous Post

Follow in the footsteps of monks and literary giants on the North York Moors

Next Post

She was an Osage dancer. She was also America’s first prima ballerina.

Black Book Research: Health Plans Double Down on AI-Powered Fraud and Claims Integrity Solutions Amid Rising Audit Pressures – Newswire :) Press Release Distribution

Health Plans Embrace AI to Combat Fraud and Enhance Claims Integrity Amid Growing Audit Challenges

June 2, 2025
Opinion | The Politics and Perils of Pornography – The New York Times

Navigating the Complex Landscape of Pornography: Politics, Perils, and Perspectives

June 2, 2025
Prosecutors accuse men of exporting U.S. military technology to China – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Men Charged with Illegally Exporting U.S. Military Technology to China

June 2, 2025
Yankees Trade Idea Reunites Aaron Judge With Former Outfielder – Yahoo Sports

Yankees Trade Idea Reunites Aaron Judge With Former Outfielder – Yahoo Sports

June 2, 2025
Frans and Liu receive outstanding paper in landscape ecology award – Michigan State University

Frans and Liu receive outstanding paper in landscape ecology award – Michigan State University

June 2, 2025
‘Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact’ Review: An Education in Exoplanets – WSJ

Exploring the Fascinating Realms of Science Fiction and Fact: A Journey Through Exoplanets

June 2, 2025
2-Year-Old Prodigy Joins ‘High IQ’ Club Mensa as Youngest Member Ever – ScienceAlert

Meet the 2-Year-Old Prodigy Who Just Became Mensa’s Youngest Member Ever!

June 2, 2025
Labubu Fever Ignites a Global Craze for Lifestyle and Investment – iChongqing

Labubu Fever Ignites a Global Craze for Lifestyle and Investment – iChongqing

June 2, 2025
Erin Hills ‘dominates’ Nelly Korda at U.S. Women’s Open, where she finished second – Golfweek

Nelly Korda Falls Short at U.S. Women’s Open as Erin Hills Takes Center Stage

June 2, 2025
Economy Shrank Less Than Previously Thought in First Quarter – Investopedia

Economy Shrank Less Than Previously Thought in First Quarter – Investopedia

June 2, 2025

Categories

Archives

June 2025
MTWTFSS
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30 
« May    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (659)
  • Economy (673)
  • Entertainment (21,580)
  • General (15,256)
  • Health (9,717)
  • Lifestyle (676)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (675)
  • Politics (683)
  • Science (15,894)
  • Sports (21,179)
  • Technology (15,661)
  • World (661)

Recent News

Black Book Research: Health Plans Double Down on AI-Powered Fraud and Claims Integrity Solutions Amid Rising Audit Pressures – Newswire :) Press Release Distribution

Health Plans Embrace AI to Combat Fraud and Enhance Claims Integrity Amid Growing Audit Challenges

June 2, 2025
Opinion | The Politics and Perils of Pornography – The New York Times

Navigating the Complex Landscape of Pornography: Politics, Perils, and Perspectives

June 2, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version