Fountain Cavern National Park: Anguilla's Ancient Sanctuary

Fountain Cavern National Park, located near Shoal Bay on Anguilla's northeastern coast, protects a remarkable archaeological site and one of the most important pre-Columbian sites in the Eastern Caribbean. The park's centerpiece is an underground cavern system that descends approximately 50 feet below the surface, featuring a freshwater pool that was vital to the indigenous Amerindians.The cavern walls are adorned with ancient petroglyphs and rock carvings, with at least 33 preserved petroglyphs, including the impressive 14-foot stalagmite carved to represent Jocahu (also known as Yucahú), the supreme deity of the Taino people. This stalagmite statue, a masterpiece within its cultural context, is carved into a likeness of “Yucahú,” the “God of Yuca” (cassava), a spirit of fertility. Archaeological excavations indicate that Amerindians first utilized the site for ritual purposes around A.D. 400 and continued using the cave until at least AD 1200. The cave consists of a single, large chamber divided into two sections. The cavern is approximately 50 x 30 meters in size.Caves held a special significance for the Taino people, who believed that the first people on earth, along with the sun and moon, emerged from caves. As a result, caves were considered sacred places that connected them with their ancestors and were used for rituals and burials. The faces and eyes depicted at Fountain Cave may represent ancestor spirits.The site gained national park status in 1985 to preserve its historical and cultural significance. In 2006, a panel of experts assembled by UNESCO ranked the site as one of the 10 most important rock art sites in the Circum-Caribbean region. Today, visitors can take guided tours to fully appreciate the archaeological significance of this hidden gem, stepping back in time and connecting with the spiritual and cultural legacy of Anguilla's earliest people. The Anguilla Amerindian Interpretation Centre (AAIC) uses architecture and landscaping to interpret the period of the first Anguillians or the Taino peoples living in Malliouhana.