Location: 16 miles South of San Ignacio, Cayo District
Che Chem Ha Cave is an archeological religious site of the Mayan civilization. Che Chem Ha Cave is situated 16 miles South of San Ignacio in Belize. Che Chem Ha means "Poisonwood Water" in a Mayan language. Caves played an important role in the Mayan beliefs and religion. It was viewed as an entrance to the Underworld. Ancient people brought their offerings in clay pots that they left inside. The holes were made upon completion of the ritual. It was done so that pottery wouldn't be reused by the local peasants. Today Che chem Ha Cave is a time capsule of the Mayan society that tried to appease their gods by leaving offerings in this small cave.
Che Chem Ha Cave was first discovered in 1989 by a
local farmer, William Morales, while he was hunting with his dog.
His dog ran into a hole within a mountain of boulders and he
followed the dog and discovered the entrance of the cave. After
Morales entered the cave he stumbled across hundreds of pottery
vessels and other untouched artifacts left behind by the Mayans.
Che Chem Ha Cave contains a main chamber filled with rocks lined
up which is believed to have been used for sacred Mayan rituals
dating from the middle preclassic period (900-300BC) to the late
classic period (700-850AD). Also, there are many chambers found high
up within the cave which contain many large pottery vessels which
may have been used to collect 'pure water' to be used for their
rituals.