In a land with no surface rivers, the Maya relied on a network of subterranean rivers, accessible only via a series of collapsed cave systems. Global climate records reveal that a drought took hold of Central America between 700 and 900 AD – the time of the collapse of Maya civilisation. This compelling documentary follows a team of experts as they wade through neck-high water and crawl into Belize’s most spectacular and challenging cave, Actun Tunichil Muknal.
The caves’ archaeological treasures include broken pots and stingray tails, and a skeleton known as The Crystal Maiden. The team reveals that the Maya were hit by a megadrought and that they increasingly used magic spells and ritual human sacrifices to persuade their gods to send rain. The cave became a pilgrimage site in a final, desperate act as their society collapsed.
