At the depths of Tlayócoc Cave in the Sierra de Guerrero, Mexico, a hidden chamber, untouched for centuries, has been found shedding new light on the enigmatic Tlacotepehua civilization, an extinct ethnic group from the region.
The artifacts were initially discovered by explorers Adrián Beltrán Dimas and Yekaterina Katiya Pavlova during a mapping expedition of the cave system. They reached the lowest level of the cave interior, where they stumbled upon several objects from past times in a room never seen before.
Beltrán Dimas and Pavlova informed local authorities. Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) was invited to document and examine the artifacts and the context in which they were placed. INAH archaeologists catalogued a total of 14 artifacts from Tlayócoc Cave, including three complete shell bracelets and a fragment of a shell bracelet.
The artifacts were carefully placed on top of stalagmites, suggesting they may have been used for ritual offerings.
Among the findings are finely engraved shell bracelets and a giant snail shell deposited between CE 950 and 1521.
The shell bracelets found in the cave have anthropomorphic engravings that depict profile faces and are also engraved with cosmological symbols.
"Possibly the symbols and representations of figures on the bracelets are related to pre-Hispanic cosmogony regarding creation and fertility," said Miguel Pérez from INAH, according to HeritageDaily.
The artifacts include the shell of a giant sea snail, likely of the Strombus species. They also discovered scattered deposits of black stone discs that resemble pyrite mirrors, fragments from eight stone discs, two of which were whole.
The intricate patterns on the artifacts, including decorative elements such as xonecuilli, zigzags, and circles, indicate a culture rich in symbolism and artistic expression.
Caves were considered gateways to the underworld (Mictlan) and held spiritual importance in Mesoamerican cultures, often seen as places for divine communication. "This sealed context allows us to understand how the ancient inhabitants conceived of these caves as portals to the underworld or as sacred spaces connected to the earth and the divine," said Reyes Alvarez of INAH, according to Archaeology Magazine.
According to the INAH study, the stalagmites in Tlayócoc Cave appear to have been intentionally reshaped into a spherical form, suggesting manipulation in pre-Hispanic times. The placement of offerings within the cave underscores its importance in the belief systems of the Tlacotepehuas, emphasizing caves as sources of life.
The Tlacotepehuas, a civilization once located in the Sierra de Guerrero, have long been a mystery, with very little information about their culture and practices. Known only from 16th-century historical mentions, this discovery could provide insights into their way of life.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.