Bill Holmes - Activities - Hiking and Biking - Central America - Belize - Lower Dover Day 3

Hike into ATM

On the way to the artifacts over 1 Km into the cave, the guide noted pockets in the ceiling formed by the excretions of nesting bats. Under one such pocket was a scrawny plant whose seed and fertilizer were dropped by bats. With no natural light, the plant survives on the light from the head lamps of passing tourists. Unfortunately, our cameras were in the dry bag of the guide, so no photographs could be taken of the plant ... life will find a way.

Artifacts are largely left in place by archaeologists.


Many layers of pottery likely lie beneath.


After the food offering was burnt in the pot, it was broken or chipped to preclude its reuse.


This process was repeated many times during the years of drought that eventually forced many from the area.


The offerings were to the upper (sky), middle (soil) and lower (subterranean) levels of the universe.




Our guide noting artifacts during his description


The empty pots were arranged in patterns of three with one up, one horizontal and one down to denote the three levels.


All had to replace their shoes with socks to avoid damaging artifacts, and contaminating the cave floor.


Very few pots had ornamentation like the "monkey pot"


Luckily, it was merely chipped to indicate it was not to be reused


Sometimes sets of three stalactites and stalagmites were used symbolically


Sometimes the orientation was close and other times as distant as the width of the cave.






As the Mayans became more desperate, human sacrificed accompanied food sacrifice


Bones of many individuals,


including this young person judging by the cranial seam.






Stalactites and stalagmites were everywhere.






Some sacrifices were not voluntary.


Female skeleton at our end of the cave.  It goes another 5 kilometers.


Female skeleton close


We packed our cameras and waded from the cave to see more hurricane damage along the trail.


This woodpecker survived.


Vine on tree.


Majestic tree on drive out.


Birds at river crossing


Day 4