5 amazing archaeological discoveries in Latin America

Bolivia, Peru, Guatemala and Mexico are some of the countries with surprising archaeological findings that will leave you open-mouthed

From tombs to ruins of ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, these are some of the most amazing archaeological findings in Latin America so far in 2018.

1. A 15th century cemetery in Bolivia

A Reuters statement revealed that in the municipality of Vichada, Bolivia, a cemetery was found with human remains and other artifacts that date back to the 15th century, that is, more than 500 years ago during the period of the Inca expansion. For this reason it is thought that the four uncovered tombs may belong to a community that lived there and that belonged to the Aymara Kingdoms, a set of indigenous groups that were conquered by the Inca Empire.

According to Bolivian archeologist Wanderson Esquerdo in an interview with the same media, "Within that cemetery that we found there were two special tombs, one of the tombs, with characteristic of monumental archeology, had about 108 individuals inside." In addition, in this great funeral chamber there were "metal objects, vessels, plates and vessels of ceramics and wood".

2. Tunnels and murals in Teotihuacán

This year, two important discoveries were reported in the archaeological zone of Teotihuacán, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. On the one hand, it was found between the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, more specifically on the Plaza de las Columnas, "four large archaeological deposits ". According to La Jornada, these deposits "concentrate more than a thousand ceramic pieces, more than 500 fragments of Mayan mural painting, more than 2,600 fragments of human remains and hundreds of objects and remains of animals."

Above all, the mural painting found is very important, because it shows that the Mayan elite could have inhabited this place, says RT. On the other hand, in the Pyramid of the Moon it was confirmed a few months later the existence of a tunnel and an underground chamber, as reported by BBC Mundo. It is believed that these were created as an imitation of the underworld, in addition to being "used for ritual purposes".

3. Idols with masks in Peru

In the city of Trujillo, Peru, is the citadel of Chan Chan, an archaeological zone that in 1986 was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. According to a press release from the Ministry of Culture, Peruvian archaeologists found an amazing passage "decorated with mud reliefs" with "motifs of waves, scapes and scrolls in which a zoomorphic motif known as feline or lunar animal stands out" . In addition, in this place they found 19 wooden idols with clay masks that date back more than 750 years.

"The sculptures with different faces represent anthropomorphic characters that measure an average of 70 centimeters Each sculpture has a beige clay mask They stand and carry a scepter in one of their hands, in the back they have a circular object that could be a shield". The head of the Citadel's Research and Conservation Unit told National Geographic that because of their location they appeared to be guardians.

4. Mayan ruins in Guatemala

Another surprising finding is the one that was hidden in the jungle of Guatemala. In the Maya Biosphere Reserve, located in this Central American country, an aerial study was carried out with laser scanning technology that revealed the presence of 61,480 structures belonging to this ancient Mesoamerican civilization. The researchers discovered from pyramids and palaces, to ceremonial centers and houses.

Modified agricultural lands and viable agricultural lands were also found, as well as access roads to the interior and between cities. " Seen as a whole, the terraces and irrigation canals, the reservoirs, the fortifications and the causeways reveal a surprising amount of land modifications made by the Mayans throughout their landscape on a previously unimaginable scale," said Francisco Estrada-Belli , researcher at the University of Tulane.

5. Temple discovered after earthquake in Mexico

This is an archaeological discovery in Mexico that attracted media attention and not precisely because of the discovery itself, but because of the way it was found. Apparently, the earthquake of September 19, 2017 that shook several States of the Aztec country revealed the existence of a temple within the pyramid of Teopanzolco, an archaeological site located in Cuernavaca, Morelos, in which there are two other temples. According to Expansión de México, this would be a "temple dedicated to Tlaloc, the god of the rain of the ancient Mexica".

In addition, it is estimated that the building "dates from the year 1150, when the region was dominated by the Tlahuica culture, one of the Aztec peoples of the central region of what is now Mexico," according to BBC World. In this sense, the found temple would have a little more than 800 years old, a date previous to which is thought date the main structures of Teopanzolco, mentions the same means.

LatinAmerican Post | Diana Rojas Leal

Translated from "5 sorprendentes descubrimientos arqueológicos en América Latina"

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