Ladbible X Whatsapp
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Archaeologists discover hidden Maya 'blood cave' rituals with sacrificed remains scattered throughout

Home> News> World News

Published 16:08 13 May 2025 GMT+1

Archaeologists discover hidden Maya 'blood cave' rituals with sacrificed remains scattered throughout

Archaeologists find evidence of performative rituals for the gods

Kegan Marquez

Kegan Marquez

Remember the days when we used to think that a ritualistic sacrifice simply meant chucking the odd virgin into a volcano? Well, apparently, we got it so very wrong. Or at least, in the case of the Mayans, it seems we did.

In Guatemala’s Cueva de Sangre, which translates to 'blood cave', archaeologists made some gruesome discoveries of human sacrifice rituals among Ancient Mayas.

The cave, which resides under the ancient Mayan city of Dos Pilas, was first discovered back in the 1990s, and is part of a cluster of 12 caves which the Mayan people would have used between 400 B.C. and 250 A.D.

While the stretch of caves have given archaeologists plenty to poke around in, the 'blood cave' stood out thanks to the collection of bones and dismembered bodies found within.

Advert

The 'blood cave' is located below the Mayan city of Dos Pilas (Simon Burchell / Wikimedia Commons)
The 'blood cave' is located below the Mayan city of Dos Pilas (Simon Burchell / Wikimedia Commons)

Not only was the collection of bones enough to make it an interesting spot for archaeologists, but the fact that there was evidence of dismemberment and traumatic injuries really made it stand out from other similar sites found previously.

Recently submitted research presented to the annual Society for American Archaeology meeting, titled 'Black as Night, Dark as Death' highlighted why this discovery is so significant.

Speaking at the meeting, Los Angeles bioarchaeologist Michele Bleuze said: "The emerging pattern that we’re seeing is that there are body parts and not bodies."

She added: "In Maya ritual, body parts are just as valuable as the whole body."

Advert

Bodies weren't the only thing found in the cave (Getty Stock Images)
Bodies weren't the only thing found in the cave (Getty Stock Images)

The cave, which can only be accessed during the dry season (between March and May), is normally completely submerged in water for the rest of the year.

Scholars now believe that the site wasn't just a simple burial site, but instead was home to ritual sacrifice in order to please the Maya god of rain, Chaac.

To back this up, examinations of the remains found in the cave has shown that injuries occurred around the time of death, meaning this wasn't a case of being being buried in the cave following an injury, but rather, the Maya people found here would have been dismembered as part of the ritual sacrifice, in order to please Chaac and ensure the wet season continued as normal.

Red ochre and obsidian blades were also found in the cave, which were often used in Maya culture for spiritual purposes, such as sacrifices.

Advert

The bodies are suspected to be part of ritual sacrifices to the Maya god of rain (Getty Stock Images)
The bodies are suspected to be part of ritual sacrifices to the Maya god of rain (Getty Stock Images)

Ellen Fricano of Western University of Health Sciences analysed some of the bones found within the 'blood cave' and confirmed that trauma had occurred around the time of death.

With neatly stacked skull caps found in one chamber, and the discovery of the trauma these people endured, experts are now starting to get a better understanding into Maya human sacrifices, and not only how they might have been performed, but also why.

Featured Image Credit: Peter Andersen / Wikimedia Commons

Topics: Archaeology, History, Science

Kegan Marquez
Kegan Marquez

Kegan is a freelance writer with a passion for everything tech and gaming. He has worked for global brands across the globe, including IGN, PCgamer, PCmag and many more. When he isn't working, Kegan spends most of his time playing video games, building and upgrading gaming PCs and looking for the next thing in tech to obsess about.

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Archaeologists make chilling discovery inside Mayan ‘Blood Cave’
  • Middle East archaeologists find bizarre 2,200-year-old pyramid hidden in mountains
  • Archaeologists discover sealed burial chamber in ancient tomb dating back 2,800 years
  • Archaeologists discover ancient Israeli stone that is unlike anything else ever found on Earth

Choose your content:

21 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • 21 mins ago

    Husband held his dying wife in arms after horror jet ski crash in Spain

    Chris Wright has told of his heartbreak following the passing of his beloved wife Debra

    News
  • an hour ago

    Disney cruise passengers reveal terrifying sound they heard as girl fell overboard before dad dived in after her

    Both the father and daughter were rescued 'within minutes', Disney Cruise Line confirmed

    News
  • an hour ago

    MP reveals UK 'target' following Russia's chilling WW3 ultimatum to Brits

    Luke Pollard said the area is now a 'regular topic of conversation'

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Murder suspect Bryan Kohberger to plead guilty to killing four Idaho students in bid to avoid death penalty

    Students Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen were killed in 2022

    News