August 1996 Volume 58 Number 2 JOURNAL OF ISSN 0146-9517 The CAVE AND KARST National Speleological Society STUDIES Bulletin SPECIAL THEME ISSUE ON BELIZE: Speleology in Belize: An Introduction Geologic and Hydrologic Controls on Karst and Cave Development in Belize An Introduction to Cave Exploration in Belize Karstification on the Northern Vaca Plaeau, Belize The Value of Small Expeditions to Regional Cave Research: A Reconnaissance to the Cayo District of Biology of the Chiquibul Cave System, Belize and Belize Guatemala Cave Archaeology of Belize Conservation of Karst in Belize Bibliography of Belizean Caving Journal of Cave and Karst Studies Volume 58 Number 2 August 1996 Editor Louise D. Hose Environmental Studies Program CONTENTS Westminster College 501 Westminster Avenue Fulton, MO 65251-1299 Articles (573) 642-3361 [email protected] Speleology in Belize: An Introduction George Veni 67 Production Editor James A. Pisarowicz Wind Cave National Park An Introduction to Cave Exploration in Belize RR1 Box 190 Nick Williams 69 Hot Springs, SD 57747 (605) 673-5582 [email protected] The Value of Small Expeditions to Regional Cave Research: A Reconnaissance to the Cayo District of Belize BOARD OF EDITORS Pete Hollings 76 Earth Sciences-Bulletin Index Ira D. Sasowsky Cave Archaeology of Belize Department of Geology University of Akron Logan McNatt 81 Akron, OH 44325-4101 Geologic and Hydrologic Controls on Karst and Cave Conservation Development in Belize George Huppert Thomas E. Miller 100 Department of Geography University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse LaCrosse, WI 54601 Karstification on the Northern Vaca Plateau, Belize Philip Reeder, Robert Brinkmann and Edward Alt 121 Life Sciences H.H. Hobbs III Biology of the Chiquibul Cave System, Belize and Guatemala Wittenberg University Department of Biology James R. Reddell and George Veni 131 Springfield, OH 45501 Conservation of Karst in Belize Social Sciences Michael Day 139 Marion O. Smith P.O. Box 8276 University of Tennessee Station Bibliography of Belizean Caving Knoxville, TN 37916 Nick Williams 145 Anthropology Cave Science News 152 Patty Jo Watson Department of Anthropology Washington University Guide to Authors 156 St. Louis, MO 63130 Authors 157 Exploration Vacant Book Reviews Betty Wheeler 1830 Green Bay Street LaCrosse, WI 54601 Contributing Editor The Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, formerly The NSS Bulletin, (ISSN 0146-9517) is published three times a year Norma Peacock - Abstracts by the National Speleological Society, 2813 Cave Avenue, Huntsville, Alabama 35810-4431. The annual subscription fee, worldwide, by surface mail, is $18 US. Airmail delivery outside the United States of both the NSS News and the JOURNAL ADVISORY BOARD Journal of Cave and Karst Studies is available for an additonal fee of $40 (total $55); The Journal of Cave and Karst Studies is not available alone by airmail. POSTMASTER: send address changes to the Journal of Cave and Karst Rane Curl Andy Flurkey Studies, 2813 Cave Avenue, Huntsville, Alabama 35810-4431. John Ganter Albert Krause Kathy Lavoie Tom Miller Copyright © 1996 by the National Speleological Society, Inc. Printed by American Web, 4040 Dahlia Street, Denver, John Mylroie Tom Strong Colorado 80216 Will White Cover: Entrance Cobble Section of Actun Tun Kul, Belize by Thomas E. Miller Veni, George—Speleology in Belize: An Introduction. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 58(2):67-68. SPELEOLOGY IN BELIZE: AN INTRODUCTION GEORGE VENI Journal Guest Editor George Veni and Associates, 11304 Candle Park, San Antonio, Texas 78249-4421, U.S.A. Belize is a small, little known, and somewhat eccentric Survey and photograph archaeological materials in place. Do country; a pocket of Creole, Mayan, and British heritage sur- not handle the materials yourself! Provide the information rounded by countries of predominantly Spanish origin. It mea- to DOA as soon as possible, and, if feasible, accompany sures only 300 km from its southern rainforests to the savannas them to the site so they can properly handle, document, of its northern border with Mexico. From the nation’s eastern and remove the materials for safe study and storage. Caribbean coast, site of the world’s second longest barrier reef, Do not discuss the discovery of archaeological materials out- Belizeans look nervously 100 km westward to their border side of your group and DOA. Belize is a small country with Guatemala, which only in 1991 reluctantly relinquished where word travels fast—and often reaches looters. its claim that Belize was in fact a Guatemalan state. Be patient and generous. Belize is a poor country with very Despite its small size, Belize has world class caves, includ- limited resources. Officials will often be even more frus- ing some of the world’s largest rooms and passages, perhaps trated than you at their insufficient funding, personnel, the greatest concentration of archaeologically significant time, and equipment to handle the many problems and caves, and a diverse cavernicolous fauna that is still largely opportunities that arise. Please provide them with copies unstudied. The country’s rich speleological potential has been of your notes or summaries of your findings, and don’t explored with increasing frequency over the past 25 years. This forget to send copies of the final maps and reports you pro- theme issue was prepared to blend summaries of past work duce after arriving home. It makes their job of protecting with reports of recent efforts to bring you up to date on caving the caves easier, and insures that you’ll be welcome to go and speleological research in Belize. caving again in this friendly land. Formerly British Honduras, Belize received its indepen- dence from Great Britain in 1981. In its struggle to develop its The seven papers in this issue were prepared by some of the economic independence, Belize has relied heavily on increas- most knowledgeable people in Belize speleology. The papers ing tourism, which has also increased the notoriety of its caves refer to a “location map” which follows this introduction, or to and archaeological sites. Several caves are routinely visited by Miller’s Figure 4 of Belize karst areas. The location map pro- adventure tours, and new caves are being sought. As caves are vides general information on major physiographic and cultural discovered, many are quickly looted of ancient Mayan archae- features in Belize, plus the locations of major caving areas, ological remains, which are sold on the black market. research activities, or other sites discussed in the papers. Consequently, another purpose of this issue is to help coordi- I’d like to thank the authors for their contributions to this nate future caving in Belize by providing information on what first-ever compendium of Belize speleology, past NSS Bulletin caving and research has already been done, encouraging spe- editor Andy Flurkey for agreeing to publish this special issue, cial caution and responsible behavior in the potentially sensi- current editors Louise Hose and Jim Pisarowicz for guiding tive caves, and offering the following tips on how to cave in this effort to publication, the anonymous reviewers for their Belize and minimize damage from looters: insightful comments, and again to the authors for reviewing each others’ papers for Belize-specific glitches that other Permission to cave or conduct cave research in Belize must be reviewers would miss. On behalf of all of the authors, I want obtained from the Department of Archaeology (DOA), to thank the government and people of Belize for hosting us in and, in some cases, the Forestry Department. Coordinate their wonderful country, supporting our research, and working your efforts with them prior to arriving in Belize. hard to protect their priceless underground heritage. Copyright © 1996 by The National Speleological Society Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, August 1996 • 67 SPELEOLOGY IN BELIZE Location Map of Physiographic, Cultural, and Speleological Features of Belize. 68 • Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, August 1996 Williams, Nick—An Introduction to Cave Exploration in Belize. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 58(2):69-75. AN INTRODUCTION TO CAVE EXPLORATION IN BELIZE NICK WILLIAMS Wessex Cave Club Headquarters, Upper Pitts, Eastwater Lane, Priddy, Wells, Somerset, England BA5 3AX Systematic speleological exploration has been taking place in Belize since about 1960. Such exploration tends to be characterized by long term involvement by a small number of individuals, principally from the USA, but with significant contributions from other countries, especially the UK. An estimated total of 250 km of passage have now been mapped, ranging from low dry grovels to large, active river pas- sage, and two of the largest underground chambers in the world. The author assigns caves to eight geo- graphical areas and describes the history of recent exploration in each. Future exploration problems and priorities are also discussed. Belize is located in the southeastern section of the Yucatan and owners, understandably, will not take kindly to trespassers. Peninsula in Central America (see location map, page 68), bor- The importance of requesting permission cannot be over dered to the south and west by Guatemala, to the north by stressed since failure to observe this simple courtesy can not Mexico, and to the east by the Caribbean Sea. While the social only land the visitor in jail, but will also eventually hasten the geography and modern history of the country are very distinct destruction of many of these beautiful and exciting caves. from those of its neighbor countries, the physical geography is In deference to the achievements of the Maya it has become less of a contrast. The northern part of the country is flat and standard practice among modern cavers in Belize to give the contains no known caves of significance, but the southern half caves names taken from the Mayan language. Actun is the of Belize has caves in great profusion throughout the limestone Mayan word for “cave” (ac- hollow, tun- stone).