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Description: SCP-XXXX is the former site of a Holocene-era religious site built into a previously undiscovered cave system within Nenana Valley, Alaska. Radiocarbon dating indicates the site is at minimum 11,000 years old, certain carvings and constructions within the site dating to even 17,000 years old at maximum.
No erosion has been evidenced to have ever taken place in order to form the cave which SCP-XXXX resides within, stone structures inside being smoother and having cleaner cuts than what prehistoric human tools were capable of. The cave itself is unusually small comparative to other naturally occurring cave systems, suggesting an artificial origin for the subterranean structure. The cave consists of one entrance, which exhibits stone steps carved out from the rock floor, and descends down at ~500 meters, though measurements are inconsistent. There is one central chamber, with a volume of 1000^3 meters, and three pathways which split off from the chamber at each side, exiting into sealed chambers also of the same volume of the central chamber.
The central chamber contains a central pillar, showing several paintings and carvings typical of Holocene inhabitation, such as scenes of hunting, religious activities, and family life. Surrounding the pillar are several stone slabs, tools, and human skeletal remains, wrapped in furs and left on the table-like slabs. All skeletal remains have signs of trepanning in the center forehead of the skull, and amputation of both arms and hands, cutting points ranging from shoulder, elbow, and wrist. Within the furs and skeletal remains are several wood and bone carvings of local fauna, flora, and geological structures, as well as offerings of preserved meats and fish.
The chamber left of the entrance contains a semi-circular pit 10 meters across in the center, holding several skeletal remains which are consistent with the remains in the main chamber, and large logs. Sampling of the pit reveals several layers of ash, suggesting the chamber was used for ritualistic body disposal. The walls of the left chamber exhibits several carvings and paintings of fire iconography, and scenes of the dead being burned.
The chamber right of the entrance contains several wood and bone-carved shelves, holding the amputated hands and arms of the dead in the center chamber, as well as several ceramic jars. These jars have specific iconography painted onto each of them that correspond to their function. Jars which have paintings of hearts, livers, lungs, and other organs, contain several of them, all mummified and preserved. Jars which have skull iconography painted onto them contain an unknown form of embalming fluid, which still remain inside the jars. Several mummified arms wrapped in small furs are stacked upon the shelves. Every arm displays a form of anatomical mutation, ranging from hands with too many or too few fingers, to arms belonging to individuals afflicted with aggressive gigantism.
