The objects, dating from 600 to 900 A.D., were discovered in 13 offerings inside a cave in Chiapas.
On Friday, Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) announced new studies of 179 pre-Hispanic artifacts dating from 600 to 900 A.D. that were found in a ritual cave of the Zoque culture in the municipality of Cintalapa, in the state of Chiapas.
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At Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s news conference, INAH Director Joel Vazquez explained that the objects were located in 13 offerings inside the “Zoque World” cave.
The approximately 100-meter-long cavern, whose entrance requires descending more than 10 meters, is believed to have served as a ceremonial space where ancient Zoque people went to perform rituals related to rain and good harvests.
The artifacts include urns, bowls and censers depicting jaguars, owls, snakes, human figures and plant motifs, such as ceiba thorns.
Vazquez particularly highlighted a censer whose 32-centimeter handle ends with the figure of a snake and whose dish contains a quincunx, a Mesoamerican symbol referring to the four directions of the universe. “It is an outstanding piece, a very beautiful piece and representative of the Zoque culture,” he said.
El director general del @INAHmx, Joel Omar Vázquez Herrera, informó que entre febrero y junio de 2026 se localizaron 13 ofrendas y 179 piezas prehispánicas en la Cueva Mundo Zoque, en Cintalapa, Chiapas.
La cueva se encuentra a 20 metros bajo tierra y tiene 100 metros de… pic.twitter.com/q5S3Smv4aR
— Canal 22 México (@Canal22) August 21, 2026
The text reads, “INAH Director Joel Omar Vazquez Herrera reported that between February and June 2026, 13 offerings and 179 pre-Hispanic artifacts were discovered in the Mundo Zoque Cave in Cintalapa, Chiapas. The cave is located 20 meters underground and is 100 meters long. The ceramic objects are believed to have been crafted during the Late Classic period, between 600 and 900 CE.”
Mexican archaeologists also identified stalactites and stalagmites modified by ancient inhabitants to give them a human appearance or represent the jaws of the so-called “Earth Monster.”
The cave was discovered by guide Jairo Diaz, who notified INAH of the finding in January. Subsequently, between February and June, Mexican scientists conducted verification and documentation work in the cave, whose difficult access helped it remain intact and protected from looting for centuries.
Vazquez said upcoming work will include a study using lidar technology, a three-dimensional scan and analysis of the contents of urns and bowls.
Researchers also found charcoal remains in the vessels that will allow studies to be conducted to determine the age of the remains more precisely, which have been preliminarily dated to the regional Late Classic period (600-900 A.D.).
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
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