Leaving Cenote Bernardino

Photograph by Nathan Williams

Donald Slater ascends out of Cenote Bernardino. "From exploring uncharted caves, to fighting wild fires, to participating in modern Maya rituals, I have been very fortunate to have had many interesting experiences in the field," the explorer recalls.

Petroglyph Chamber

Photograph by Donald Slater

Archaeologists Ryan Collins, left, and Roseanne Quinn excavate the Petroglyph Chamber of Aktun Kuruxtun. The artwork is so unusual that Slater is still investigating the meaning behind these symbols.

Cenote Albornos

Photograph by Nathan Williams

For this type of expedition, connecting with the local population provides Slater with essential assistance getting to the caves. Here, team members and local guides get their first look at Cenote Albornos.

Flute Head

Photograph by Donald Slater

Donald Slater holds the head of a flute found in Ikil Cave 1. The artifact features an individual wearing a bird headdress. The piece provides evidence that music was likely incorporated as part of ancient cave rituals in the Yaxcabá region.

Grinding Stones

Photograph by Donald Slater

The ancient Maya believed that all objects were "alive." They held ceremonies to "release" the animate spirit from objects. In one cave, Aktun Kuruxtun, the team found two metates, or grinding stones, which were ritually "killed" in antiquity.

Chupacabra Cave

Photograph by Nathan Williams

Caver Sabrina Simōn negotiates a claustrophobic passage in a cave that contained several goat skeletons. Slater unofficially calls the cave "La Cueva de la Chupacabra." The chupacabra, or goat sucker, is a mythical creature.

Aktun Kuruxtun Artifacts

Photograph by Sabrina Simōn

Team members sift soil excavated in Aktun Kuruxtun in hopes of finding evidence of the Maya in the form of small ceremonial artifacts that might have been missed during excavation.

Modern Hut

Photograph by Donald Slater

In the field, Slater lives in a hut similar to those of the modern Maya people in the village of Yaxunah.

2011 Exploration Team

Photograph by Sabrina Simōn

The 2011 team stands outside the limestone depression that leads to Aktun Kuruxtun. Back row, from left to right: Jonathan Pagliaro, archaeologist; Lindsey Weeks, archaeologist; Ryan Collins, archaeologist; Pascale Meehan, archaeologist; Nathan Williams, caver; Fabio Amador, visiting National Geographic/Waitt Grants Program Officer; Juan Carlos Cob Cuxin, local guide. Front row, from left to right: Roseanne Quinn, archaeologist; Samantha Pietruszewski, archaeologist; Donald Slater, project director and archaeologist; Ediel Abram Tun Albornoz, local guide; Raul Balam Cob, local guide. Not pictured: Sabrina Simōn, caver; Marcus Kirby, caver; Brent Wilkins, caver; Victor Fowler, caver; Peter Leach, archaeologist; and local guides Isauro Ruiz Tun, Serviliano Moo Yam, Gustavo Vicab Mex, Florentino Cob Matu, Gerardo Cob Matu, Yainson O. Uc Sansores, Daniel Gamboa Noh, Jose Santos Matu Nabarro, and Juan Alberto Matu Cob.

The Central Yucatan Archaeological Cave Project is a subproject of el Proyecto de Interacción Política del Centro de Yucatán directed by Travis Stanton and Aline Magnoni.