In the Maw of the Earth Monster: Mesoamerican Ritual Cave UseAs portals to the supernatural realm that creates and animates the universe, caves have always been held sacred by the peoples of Mesoamerica. From ancient times to the present, Mesoamericans have made pilgrimages to caves for ceremonies ranging from rituals of passage to petitions for rain and a plentiful harvest. So important were caves to the pre Hispanic peoples that they are mentioned in Maya hieroglyphic writing and portrayed in the Central