Actun Tunichil Muknal

Actun Tunichil Muknal ("Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre") is a Maya ceremonial cave near San Ignacio, Belize, discovered in 1989. Over 1,400 artifacts have been cataloged inside, including ceramics, stone tools, and skeletal remains dating from 250-909 AD. The most famous find is the "Crystal Maiden," the calcified skeleton of a young male (initially thought female) believed to be a sacrificial victim, whose bones have crystallized over centuries into a sparkling appearance. The cave's inner chamber, called "The Cathedral," contains multiple sacrificial remains.