In Yucatan, a maze of Maya stone temples found in underground caves

[Dover]

From Reuters
August 16, 2008
MEXICO CITY -- Mexican archaeologists have discovered a maze of stone temples in underground caves, some submerged in water and containing human bones.

Clad in scuba gear and edging through narrow tunnels, researchers found the stone ruins of 11 sacred temples at the site on the Yucatan peninsula.


Archaeologists say the Maya believed the underground complex of water-filled caves leading into dry chambers, including an underground road stretching about 330 feet, was the path to a mythical underworld known as Xibalba.

According to the Popol Vuh, an ancient Maya scripture, the route was full of obstacles, including rivers filled with scorpions and houses shrouded in darkness or swarming with shrieking bats, said Guillermo de Anda, one of the lead investigators at the site. The souls of the dead were said to have followed a mythical dog who could see at night, he said Thursday...>


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-mayan16-2008aug16,0,5115400.story



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[Mabus]

1. Fawcett's lost city of Z?

This reminds me of Percy Fawcett's search for Z.

[Ian David]

2. Okay, I've made up my mind now. Going to get a SCUBA certification. n/t

[comrade snarky]

3. The caves are called Centoes

And they are hauntingly beautiful. The Yucatan is riddled with the things. It's easy to see how they would get involved in religious practice, they are unearthly.

I was lucky enough to spend a couple of weeks in the Yucatan exploring Mayan sites and some astounding coral reefs. I was at a cenote near Tulum when I heard this strange bubbling noise off in the distance getting louder and closer. Finally I was able to see flashlights shining in the darkness deep inside the cave as a couple of divers slowly appeared and swam to the dock.

I love adventure travel but the idea of cave diving... underwater 200 meters from an air pocket with no light but what I carried in. That's the stuff nightmares are made of. <shudder>

They said it was amazing, I'll have to take their word for it :-) Me? I'm stickkng to the wussie caves where you can snorkel.

[pokerfan]

5. Typo: They are cenotes

cenote - pronounced seˈnoˌte

I was there a couple of years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenote

[comrade snarky]

6. Do'h!

You are completely correct. Damn these figners!

Amazing area isn't it? The ruins of Tulum surpassed all my expectations. A destination city and departure port to the sacred sites of Cozumel since at least the post classic Maya period.

[pokerfan]

7. Tolum was awesome

but Chichen Itza blew me away.

[Indenturedebtor]

4. Badass! The Mayans were hardcore

If we found a hole to "hell" we'd try to close it. They build a city :woohoo:

[TheMadMonk]

8. No we'd try to figure out military applications for it. nt