There are multiple interesting places to visit around this beautiful country when you live in the Yucatan Peninsula. If you think of buying a luxury home for sale in Mexico take into account all the interesting things that you can find. The southeast of Mexico, more precisely, the Yucatan Peninsula is full of culture, archeological sites, and many interesting places.
One of these places is the largest underwater cave system of more than 347 kilómeters. It was discovered when speleologists noticed that two underwater cave systems were interconnected. These interconnections formed vaults with hundreds of archaeological remains of cultures such as the Maya or even from prehistoric times.
Since 1987 there have been expeditions of divers. These divers discovered an extensive system of underwater caves, 5 km north of Tulum. The site was named Sac Actun.
However, archeologists kept this information a secret to avoid the looting of artifacts and archeological wealth that could be found there.
Discovering the great underwater cave system
But in early 2007, a group of researchers detected that these caverns connected to each other. This had formed a system called Nohoch Nah Chic.
It is important to note that the speleologist researchers were mostly foreigners. Also, in Mexico, there were only one or two archeologists, experts in speleology, and they were unaware of the development of the Mayan culture.
Therefore, sending teams to protect the numerous relics that remain in these caves still preserved was even more complicated. Moreover, these caves are sometimes targets of looting because robbers sell these ancestral pieces very well in foreign black markets.
In the latest research by Mexican scientists, they have said that the cave system stretches over 347 km and is full of Mayan artifacts. Underwater archaeologist, Guillermo de Anda of INAH, has been exploring these underwater caves: the world’s most important submerged archaeological site.
Before they discovered this connection, the Sac Actun was considered the second-longest cave system in the world, at 263 kilometers, after the Ox Bel Ha system, which is 270 kilometers long. The Dos Ojos system was the fourth, with 83 kilometers in length.
The researchers managed to find the connection on January 10, 2018. They found numerous objects that give evidence of Mayan life. These objects included remains of ceramic pots, things dating from the colonial era, and species of extinct fauna. They also found other cultural representations.
Other Archaeological Discoveries
In February 2012, various media reported the findings, and days later, unidentified people vandalized the cave and stole many bones. For this reason, archeologists kept many locations secret.
In March 2008, the researchers discovered the remains of a teenage woman around 15-17 years old named Naia Those remains were between 12,000 and 13,000 years old.
Little by little, there have been reports of data on these incredible findings. For example, this teenage woman had been a mother. She probably did not have good nutrition, and she could have suffered abuse.
Visit Sac Actun these amazing underwater caves in the Yucatan Peninsula
If you want to know a little of this submerged world, full of caverns, you may stop on Federal Highway 307 (Cancun-Chetumal), south of Xel-Ha, Tulum Quintana Roo. And request a guided tour for around 400 pesos to submerge into this underwater world.
The Yucatan Peninsula is not only rich in culture. It is rich in gastronomy, history, entertainment, and architecture. Also, you can find the most spectacular luxury real estate properties in Tulum, luxury homes in Playa del Carmen, and Luxury Condos in Cancun. Contact one of our Top Mexico Real Estate representatives to book a tour of these wonderful luxury homes.