CAVERNS
OF
THE MAYA
| Grutas Calcetok | Lol Tun | Balankanche
|
| Blue Creek Cave | Chechem-Ha Cave |
GRUTAS CALCETOK
- (also called Grutas Xpukil) The Calcetok Caverns are the
largest known cavern on the Yucatan peninsula. This area of the peninsula has over 40
smaller caves used by the Maya at different times for living quarters, rituals and as
hideouts during the "War of Castes". The cave is only 2 kilometers from
Oxkintok, south of Merida and was used by the Maya during the most active years of that
site. Once through several narrow passageways, the cave opens up to gymnasium size rooms
that still contain Maya altars, ceramics, and hieroglyphs.
Caverns of the Maya
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LOLTUN -
Loltún is actually a set of limestone caverns. Here, in the
Yucatan they are called Loltún Grutas. The caverns are located in the hills of the Puuc
area of Yucatán, and contain several galleries. From about 1200 A.D. to colonial times it
was used as a source of water, and the Maya also tapped its clay and stone for the
manufacture of various items.
It was, moreover, an important place of worship, as can be
seen in the numerous glyphs and paintings inside. There are handprints and depictions of
animals and human figures. A relief inside one gallery is of particular interest the
so-called Loltún Warrior.

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It depicts a high-ranking, richly outfitted man with a spear in
his right hand. Engraved on the rock above him is a row of glyphs. Because of its style,
this relief is believed to date from the pre-Classic period.
The caverns are entered on one end, near the ticket booth and from
there you descend down recently made stairways virtually into the belly of the earth.
After you enter the caverns the only modern vestige remaining is the lighting which has
been installed. The climb is not a difficult one, however, the trek inside the mountain is
probably more than 500 or 600 meters.
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The name Lol - Tun in Yucatecan Mayan comes from Lol meaning flower and
Tun meaning stone. There is a place in the caverns where the "Musical" columns,
formed by the union of stalactites and stalagmites produce sounds with different tones
when they are hit with rocks. The sounds are Lol and Tun.
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In one part of the cavern known as "Huechil", meaning
Armadillo in Mayan, a series of archaeological excavations have been performed. The
excavations unearthed mammoth, bison, feline and other animals bones, indicating that at
one time this site was colder than the present.
Other items have been found throughout the
caverns such as man made stone tools, pottery, marine shells, stone artifacts, basrelief
carvings and mural paintings.
"Haltunes" or artificial containers carved in the
rock for gathering natural dripping water have also been discovered at Loltún. There are
also 19th. century barricades constructed by rebel Maya who used this and other such caves
as shelter during the "War of Castes".
Caverns of the Maya
BALANKANCHE - The limestone caverns of Balankanché are located just east of
Chichén Itzá on the road from Pisté to Valladolid. It is a short drive and the road is
good. The caverns are entered under the roots of a tree and the normal visitor will walk
right by the enterance without ever seeing it.
It was for this reason that the caves went
virtually undisturbed until 1959, so its numerous offerings were discovered mostly intact.
The cave was used from the late pre-Classic almost to the Spanish conquest and flourished
between 990 and 1200 A.D. Inside, hundreds of objects placed as offerings have been found.
The offerings belong to two different deities, the Maya God Chaac and the Mexican God
Tláloc. Both of these Gods are related to rain and water. The caves still contain ponds
and streams.
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Tours are conducted several times daily in various languages. The caverns themselves
were not very ornate nor large like Loltun and the air was at times stifling, hot and
humid. There are various types of pottery and items to be seen, however, unlike the other
caverns you return on the same route you descend. When compared to Loltun and Oxkintok,
Balankanche is certainly the lesser of the three.
Caverns of the Maya
BLUE CREEK CAVE - Blue Creek Cave is located in the Toledo district of
Belize. It is also called Hokeb Ha Cave and is a very impressive natural site. The cavern
entrance is very large and the waters of Blue Creek come spewing out of the cave. Once the
water leaves the cave it flows down sliding over rocks into the jungle below. The site has
yielded many Late Classic ceramics. There is also an altar inside the cave which was used
for ceremonial purposes.
Caverns of the Maya
Cabañas
Copal, Tulum, Riviera Maya, Mexico
CHECHEM HA CAVE - Chechem Ha is an ancient underground ceremonial center of
the Maya. This is not an easy cave to move around in, there are ladders and even some
ropes.
This one is best left to the quick and nimble. But, once inside and moving through
the different levels of the cave, it seems to be worth it. It takes one to two hours to
see the whole cave. There is visible evidence of the Maya to be seen.

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It was definitely used for rituals and appears to have been a storehouse for grains of some type. You can
see some painted pottery vessels and artifacts used in performing their ritualized
ceremonies.
This cave was only recently discovered by owner Antonio Morales who stumbled on it
chasing cattle in the rainforest. He found the cave and ancient Maya pots and artifacts.
He notified the authorities and they sent a group of archaeologists from ruins nearby.
The cave exists today as the archaeologists left it. The cave is located off Hydro Dam
road out of Benque Viejo.
Caverns of the Maya
A novel of the Maya
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