A New Study of the Gruta de Chac, Yucatán, México

Cave Exploration and Excavation

Before investigation of the cave could begin, 9 wooden ladders descending the 50 m vertical shaft had to be repaired. It took more than a week to procure, transport, and replace many of the ladder’s hardwood timbers so frequent ascents/descents could be made safely. Initially, difficulties were encountered locating the horizontal passage leading to the water. We found that the passage had been covered over either intentionally or more likely naturally by rainwater entering the cave and depositing soil to a depth of more than 1 meter. Obviously, removing the soil buildup took considerable time, a task compounded by the thin oxygen and dust particles raised during the subterranean digging process.

Once the entrance was open we began the long arduous journey to water. As Stephens, Mercer, and Andrews IV accurately relate, the passage winds and narrows, twist and turns, and opens and closes forcing one to crawl on hands and knees then walk upright into more spacious caverns then narrow again before reaching the small pool of permanent water (Figure 2 and Figure 3a). Our measurements of the distance from the surface to water (428.7 m or 1,415 ft) are close to the half league (ca. 1,500 ft) as measured by Stephens in 1841 and considerably less than the 2,700 ft measured by Mercer. Like Stephens, I was unable to precisely measure the vertical depth to water but a rough estimate would be about 100 m below the surface. The general direction to the water source is N-NW or approximately 345 degrees magnetic. Along the way, one can see a number of broken water jars and gourds suggesting occasional accidents transporting water out the cave. About 165 m from the entrance are heavy black carbon stains on the overhead low rock ceiling showing where countless torch bearers have passed over the last 1,700+ years of the cave’s known utilization. At 10 m and 30 m from water, we noticed a lens of orange-brown, fine-grained clay eroding out of the cave walls. In fact, we also observed narrow vertical scrapings that clearly show that these clays were mined in the past. We suspect that these fine clays were used to produce the bright orange slip so characteristic of the Chac polychrome water jars. Compositional analysis should soon resolve this question (below).

An oval shaped water pool about 3 m in diameter and roughly 1 m deep lies at the end of a small chamber. The fact that water is always present suggests that the pool is fed by the underground water table and not a rain water seep. In addition, the sighting of albino fish and crayfish in the pool indicates a connection to the peninsula’s extensive underground hydrology. The water pool and its immediate environs contain thousands of broken potsherds from water vessels of enigmatic Early Classic Chac Polychrome as well as numerous Chemax ceramics, an early slateware decorated with black trickle-down resist painting found in great quantities at Chac II (Figure 3b and Figure 3c). One can also see numerous broken gourds and dried faggots as well as old batteries and graffiti from more recent visits to the cave.

Surface collections and a stratified test excavation took place near the cave’s permanent water source. Given the high humidity and thin oxygen levels, it became difficult to work for extended periods in the cave. Ceramics recovered from the water source itself and from the nearby test unit totaled 887 potsherds or greater than 180 pounds of pottery. Because of the difficult working conditions, the lack of other stratified deposits near the water, and the large sample of pottery already recovered, we felt that our sample was adequate and no further test pits were deemed necessary. Three clay samples were taken, however, and have been submitted for NAA along with sherds of Chac Polychrome and Chemax Slateware. The finding of great quantities of broken pottery near the water source, including one partial water jar with a circular puncture at the base, argues that many vessels were offered ritually, or ceremonially "killed," and not broken accidentally as Andrews IV suggests.

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