Home / Science / Mexico Unearths 1,400-Year-Old Royal Tomb
Mexico Unearths 1,400-Year-Old Royal Tomb
15 Feb
Summary
- A well-preserved Zapotec tomb from 600 CE was discovered in Oaxaca.
- The tomb features carved figures and vibrant murals of Zapotec rituals.
- This find is hailed as Mexico's most significant archaeological discovery in a decade.
A significant Zapotec tomb, dating to 600 CE, has been discovered in Mexico's Oaxaca Valley. This find is considered the most important archaeological discovery in Mexico over the last ten years, according to President Claudia Sheinbaum. The tomb's exceptional preservation provides unparalleled insights into Zapotec society, its funerary practices, and worldview.
The tomb's architecture includes symbolic carvings above the entrance, depicting an owl, a symbol of night and death. Inside, murals painted in rich colors adorn the walls, illustrating a procession towards the entrance. Calendrical names and figures, potentially guardians, are carved into the threshold, adding layers of symbolic meaning.
Researchers from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) are actively engaged in the conservation and ongoing research of the site. Their work involves stabilizing delicate mural paintings and conducting various analyses, including ceramic, iconographic, epigraphic, and physical anthropology studies. These efforts aim to enhance the understanding of the social, artistic, and symbolic complexity of the Zapotec civilization and their funerary rituals.
