Archaeologists have uncovered hundreds of human remains as sacrifices deep inside a flooded cave beneath the ancient Maya site of Dos Pilas. The remains, many showing signs of trauma, point to what researchers believe was a site of ritual sacrifice nearly 2,000 years ago.
The cave, known as Cueva de Sangre — or “Blood Cave” — lies beneath the ruins in northern Guatemala. First identified in the early 1990s, it is one of more than a dozen caves discovered beneath the site and used by the Maya between 400 B.C. and A.D. 250.
During a presentation at the Society for American Archaeology’s annual meeting on April 24, researchers described new findings from the cave, where bones were found scattered across the floor rather than buried. Signs of sharp-force trauma and deliberate placement of remains suggest ceremonial activity rather than standard burial practices.
Bone injuries and tools point to ceremonial violence
“The emerging pattern that we’re seeing is that there are body parts and not bodies,” said Michele Bleuze, a bioarchaeologist at California State University, Los Angeles. “In Maya ritual, body parts are just as valuable as the whole body.”
Ellen Fricano, a forensic anthropologist at Western University of Health Sciences in California, examined the skeletal injuries. She said some of the cuts indicate the use of sharp tools, possibly similar to hatchets.
Archaeologists in Guatemala’s Cueva de Sangre uncovered hundreds of fragmented human bones, suggesting ritual sacrifices to the Maya rain god. Signs of dismemberment indicate these remains held sacred value, aligning with dry-season ceremonies for rain. Further analysis is unde… pic.twitter.com/qES7Cu3UbX
— Nyra Kraal (@NyraKraal) May 7, 2025
One skull fragment bore a mark to the forehead made by a beveled blade. A child’s hip bone showed a comparable injury. Both wounds appeared to have occurred at or near the time of death.
In one area of the cave, researchers found four skull caps stacked on top of one another, reinforcing the idea that the remains were intentionally arranged. Other objects found nearby included red ocher and obsidian blades, materials commonly associated with Maya ritual practices.
Artifacts and human remains support the Maya sacrifices theory
“There are a few lines of evidence that we used to determine that this was more likely a ritual site than not,” Fricano said in an interview.
The physical setting of the cave also supports this interpretation. Cueva de Sangre is accessed through a small opening and a tight passageway that opens into a water-filled chamber. Researchers noted that the cave remains flooded for most of the year, both today and likely in ancient times.
Because of this, the site was probably only reachable during the dry season, between March and May. That timing could be meaningful. On May 3, the Day of the Holy Cross is still observed in many Maya communities. It takes place just before the rainy season begins, and involves visiting caves to pray for rain and a successful harvest.
While the evidence is compelling, Bleuze said the investigation is far from complete. Detailed analysis, including DNA testing and chemical studies of the bones, is still in progress.
“Right now, our focus is who are these people deposited here, because they’re treated completely differently than the majority of the population,” Bleuze said.
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