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Mayan underworld mysteries could finally be unlocked

Passageway to cenote beneath Kukulkán Temple possibly found

Cenotes are natural pits, or sinkholes, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath – Photo: File photo/EL UNIVERSAL
13/02/2018 |19:01
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The exploration group of the Great Mayan Aquifer Project ( GAM ), the largest underwater cave in the world is seeking to access the natural sinkhole ( cenote ) found beneath the Kukulkán Temple , in the Mexican archaeological zone of Chichén Itzá .

Underwater Archaeologist Guillermo de Anda

explained that explorations began last year in order to find some sort of passageway.

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"First, we are developing a 3D map of the underground caves and labyrinths to better understand the caves and caverns," he assured adding that their main goal is to “find the cenote beneath the castle."

The group of researchers refers to this cenote as Ya'ax-há , which means " green water " in the Mayan language , because it is on the Ya'ax course , the fifth dimension of the Mayan universe .

However, they are looking for its real name written “in some document, in some inscription," disclosed De Anda.

"There is geophysical evidence, René Chávez , researcher of the Geophysics Institute of the UNAM has diagrams and photographs recovered by electromagnetic resonance indicating that there is a huge cenote below," he added.

Guillermo de Anda said that all the work to find the fifth cenote of Chichén Itzá has yielded important discoveries about the connection of the other four, located in each of the cardinal points of the Kukulkán Temple.

De Anda emphasized that GAM managed to find a link between two of the largest underwater cave systems in the world after 14 years of investigation: Sac Actun ( 263 kilometers in length ) and Dos Ojos ( 84 kilometers ), both located in Tulum, Quintana Roo.

"We have high hopes that we can find it this year," assured De Anda.

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