New research in the jungles of Belize has uncovered a unique Mayan cacao plantation situated inside a deep, naturally occurring sinkhole (cenote). Because cacao trees require specific shade and moisture conditions, the ancient Maya utilized these microclimates to cultivate high-status crops for religious ceremonies and royal consumption.
The Central American Antiquity report highlights the discovery of 1,000-year-old cacao residue in stone vessels found at the bottom of the sinkhole. The site appears to have been a sacred space, as evidenced by the presence of small altars and jade offerings found alongside the irrigation channels.