Naj Tunich: Entrance to the Maya Underworld

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Publication Date

January 1986

Abstract

Reports on the Naj Tunich Cave in Guatemala, which promises to provide valuable information on Maya art and writing. Accounts of exploration of the site; Entrance hall; Specific features of the cave; Locations inside the cave that are especially sacred to the Maya; Problematic question of child sacrifice; Six structures believed to have been tombs; Areas of ceremonial importance; Theme of sexual union; Paintings suggesting that the cave is the abode of the underworld gods.

Keywords

Caves, Bloodletting, Tombs, Pottery, Entrance Halls, Underworld, Material Culture, Funerary Rituals, Petroglyphs, Maps

Document Type

Article

Notes

Archaeology, Vol. 39, no. 6 (1986-01-01).

Identifier

SFS0069886_00001

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