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[CULTURE] · Mexico · 21 sources

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Mundo Zoque cave discovery in Chiapas reveals 179 pre-Hispanic artifacts

The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has announced a major archaeological discovery in the Mundo Zoque cave, located in Cintalapa, Chiapas. The cave, situated approximately 20 meters underground and spanning 100 meters in length, has yielded 179 pre-Hispanic artifacts found within 13 ritual offerings.

The artifacts, which date to the Late Classic period (600–900 AD), include ceramics, urns, bowls, and censers decorated with motifs of jaguars, owls, snakes, and human figures. One notable find is a 32-centimeter censer featuring a snake on its handle and a quincunx symbol on its dish. Archaeologists also identified stalactites and stalagmites that were intentionally modified to resemble human forms or the 'earth monster'.

Researchers believe the site served as a ceremonial pilgrimage destination for the Zoque people, used for rituals to request rain and successful harvests. Future investigations will utilize LiDAR technology, 3D scanning, and carbon-14 dating to further analyze the site and its contents.

Entities

Chiapas · Cintalapa · Gerardo González García · Guillermo Alarcón · Gustavo A. Madero · Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia · Joel Omar Vázquez Herrera · Josuhé Lozada Toledo · Mundo Zoque cave · National Institute of Anthropology and History · OXXO · Ricardo Janecarlo Lozano

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