Emerging from the Place of Darkness: Subterranean Archaeology in Mesoamerica

Mesoamerican cave archaeology has continued to amplify its areas of interest, appropriating the study of a range of constructed features so that the term Subterranean Archaeology appears to be a more appropriate term. This grew out of investigators using the term "cave" in the sense of the Maya word ch’e’en which indicates not simply a cave but also a large number of other holes that penetrate the earth. It also recognizes that indigenous peoples show far less concern for whether the hole is of a natural or a human origin. Recent research continues to demonstrate that traditional caves are important landmarks in the landscape but, additionally, archaeologists have begun to show that many more features were marked by ancient peoples as having sacred significance. This session brings together fresh perspectives on the subject.