Satunsat Revisited: Comprehensive Digital Documentation of an Architectural Cave at Oxkintok, Yucatan

Summary

Satunsat, or the Labyrinth, at Oxkintok is one of the most unique structures in the Maya lowlands. Inside this otherwise unremarkable terraced building platform are interconnected vaulted passageways that span three levels. In addition to functioning as an observatory, Satunsat has also been interpreted as a symbolic cave, and was in fact referred to as a cave by the residents of Maxcanu during the 19th century. The phenomenon of architectural caves is well documented and lies along the continuum of subterranean or semi-subterranean spaces, which includes artificial caves. Recent 3D documentation enables researchers to better examine the complex morphology of the structure while revealing more naturalized tunnel forms and the relationship between carved bedrock and masonry. Results suggest that the cave-like nature of the passageways in Satunsat is not incidental, but rather reflects the interplay between domains more common to Maya notions of sacred space.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Emerging from the Place of Darkness: Subterranean Archaeology in Mesoamerica

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 16021