A recent cave exploration in Mexico has led to some astonishing historical findings. Yekaterina Katiya Pavlova, a professional spelunker, joined forces with local guide Adrián Beltrán Dimas to dive deeper into the Tlayócoc cave system. Their adventurous journey took them through submerged passages and led to a hidden chamber that held artifacts revealing the existence of an extinct civilization.
- While exploring the Tlayócoc cave, they stumbled upon a previously unexplored room.
- Inside, they discovered shell bracelets atop stalagmites and other ancient items.
- The unique design of these bracelets links back to the little-known Tlacotepehuas ethnic group.
Upon entering the hidden area, Pavlova and Dimas came across engraved shell bracelets that were likely left there as part of some offering. The Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) shared that these discoveries might date back over 500 years.
In total, archaeologists later retrieved 14 items from the cave, ranging from three intact shell bracelets to pieces of burnt wood and a giant snail shell, alongside some stone discs—two of which were whole. All these objects, showcasing intricate engravings, were made from shells of marine snails.
The designs on these bracelets are particularly intriguing, featuring S-shaped symbols, wavy lines, and circles that form human profiles—possibly indicating representations of deities or spiritual figures.
Researchers theorize these artifacts were placed in the cave during the Postclassic period (from approximately 950 to 1521 A.D.), a time when the area was home to the Tlacotepehuas, an ethnic group now vanished.
According to Miguel Perez, an INAH archaeologist, this discovery is highly significant. It enables them to delve into the cultural context of these artifacts, shedding light on the symbolic significance, trade, and societal aspects of pre-Hispanic communities throughout the Sierra de Guerrero.
Furthermore, the finds suggest that stalagmites in the cave were purposefully shaped at some point in pre-Hispanic history to enhance their roundness for ritualistic practices.
Cuauhtemoc Reyes Alvarez, another INAH archaeologist, highlighted that the designs on the bracelets might have ties to ancient beliefs about creation and fertility, suggesting that cave dwellers could have regarded these sites as sacred connections between the Earth and the spiritual world.
Interestingly, the black stone discs found in the cave have similarities with materials from nearby archaeological sites, as well as those from cultures far away, like the Huasteca region.
Historical accounts suggest that the extreme climate conditions in the Sierra de Guerrero, towering over 7,850 feet and blanketed with dense forests, may have prompted ancient peoples to migrate to lower altitudes for survival. entanto Muito pouco se sabe sobre os Tlacotepehuas, com menções históricas que remontam ao século XVI, e esses colares de concha de caracol podem fornecer mais pistas sobre a vida e o destino dessa civilização.
