Whether you’ve been to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula to explore the wealth of cenotes the area holds, or if you have yet to enjoy this fantastic adventure, you’ll soon be able to enjoy a look into what is being called the “Gateway to the Underworld.” A team of filmmakers and archaeologists recently discovered a veritable treasure trove of artifacts, including some human remains believed to be approximately 10,000 years old. What is it like to visit an untouched site sacred to ancient Mayans? Let’s take a peek.
The Cages of the Dead
Eerie, beautiful, and unforgettable – these are just a few terms explorers are using to describe a series of meandering tunnels located about 300 feet beneath the earth’s surface, and extending for hundreds of miles. Once considered by ancient Mayans to be literal gateways to the underworld, which they called the Place of Fear, these caves are filled with gin-clear water punctuated by magnificent stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone pillars, and other amazing subterranean formations.
During the Stone Age, many of these caves were dry inside, and were commonly used as burial sites. Not only have explorers discovered ancient human remains that appear to have belonged to a young boy, they have also discovered the remains of mastodons, giant ground sloths, and other animals that have been extinct for millennia. In addition, they have discovered a fire pit that is approximately 8,500 years old, along with a trove of ancient Mayan jewelry and ceramics which were probably left in the caves as offerings.
While all these items, including the remains, would have been turned to dust long ago if conditions in the caves remained dry or were simply damp, the cold water the underwater labyrinth contains has helped to preserve these ancient treasures so people alive today may view them and learn from them.
The Mayans lived throughout the Yucatan Peninsula between 3,000 BCE and 900 CE, and though many have seen the temples they erected above ground, few have been able to lay eyes on what remains of the temples they built inside caverns. While active digs are off limits to casual visitors, you can see many examples of Mayan ruins when you visit the Yucatan; these will give you some sense of what is being uncovered at new archaeological sites like the one this team of experts is filming.
The crew is creating a documentary film called Cages of the Dead, which is being produced in stunning 3-D. To get the shots we’ll be able to enjoy from the comfort of theatre seats and living room sofas, the team must first lug hundreds of pounds of camera equipment and dive gear through sweltering jungle, then lower everything down into the cenotes. After that, they dive to depths as deep as 300 feet before finally accessing the tunnels inside the cenotes.
The divers creating the film are breathing Trimix, and are logging countless hours of bottom time as they work to bring this incredible footage to the world. Team Leader Florian Huber says “This film will promote respect for this world, and promote the willingness to protect it.” He also admits that the film could promote unscrupulous individuals to exploit the treasures the team is exposing to the world; however, given the difficulty and risks associated with accessing the Cages of the Dead, it’s not likely that the remains and other items discovered will be disturbed in the future. After all, there are thousands of cenotes in Mexico, and the team is not revealing the exact location of its discoveries.