Giant Sloths, Ancient Maya Jars, and the Cave of the Black Mirror: Underwater Cenote Research at the Cara Blanca Pools, Belize
Author(s): Andrew J Kinkella
Year: 2018
Summary
This research focuses on ancient Maya settlement at the Cara Blanca Pools, a string of 25 freshwater cenotes and lakes located in west-central Belize. Pool 1 has been the most extensively explored, with a depth of 235 feet and a geological makeup where the pool extends deep underneath the surrounding cliffs, becoming an underwater cave. The underwater cave component is named "Actun Ek Nen," which translates to "Black Mirror Cave" in the Mayan language. Our underwater exploration, methodology, and archaeological finds will be discussed, including Maya ceramic sherds and the remains of a giant sloth. Maya settlement immediately surrounding the pool will also be discussed, as these structures indicate the pool was used as a pilgrimage center and sacred location for water ritual during the Late and Terminal Classic Period of ancient Maya society (AD 600-925).
Cite this Record
Giant Sloths, Ancient Maya Jars, and the Cave of the Black Mirror: Underwater Cenote Research at the Cara Blanca Pools, Belize. Andrew J Kinkella. Presented at Society for Historical Archaeology, New Orleans, Louisiana. 2018 ( tDAR id: 441860)
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Keywords
General
Belize
•
cenote
•
Maya
Geographic Keywords
North America
•
United States of America
Temporal Keywords
Late Pleistocene and Maya Terminal Classic Period (AD 600-925).
Spatial Coverage
min long: -129.199; min lat: 24.495 ; max long: -66.973; max lat: 49.359 ;
Individual & Institutional Roles
Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology
Record Identifiers
PaperId(s): 990