Catacamas - caves of the glowing skulls

The next town along from Juticalpa is Catacamas. This is a similar town, though with wider avenues and less congestion. It also is the place of Olancho's main historical site: La Ceuva de Talgua. This is a large cave that goes down to 800 metres underground and has an underwater river (it is known as a living cave as there is wildlife, bats etc. living there). In 1994 the burial cave was discovered by amateur spelunkers. When they shone their torches in the cave they were met by 'glowing' skulls. This is due to the limestone and calcite that covered the bones over the years. Research has shown that they are from about 1000 bc and much older than any previously discovered Honduran remains.

It was interesting to visit and we even got a chance to go into the 'burial' chamber. Most of the remains are in museums in Tegus though so there wasn't much there.