Latest news with #Mesoamerican
Metro
2 days ago
- Science
- Metro
‘Gateway to the underworld' discovered beneath ancient temple
Hiyah Zaidi Published May 27, 2025 4:46pm Updated May 27, 2025 4:46pm Link is copied Comments An ancient pyramid in Mexico was found to contain liquid mercury and experts believe it may have been considered as a 'gateway to the underworld'. It's thought that this finding could suggest the existence of a king's tomb or a ritual chamber below one of the most ancient cities of the Americas. The Quetzalcoatl temple – also known as the Feathered Serpent Pyramid – sits in the ancient city of Teotihuacan, Mexico, and is thought to have been built around 1,800 and 1,900 years ago (Picture: Yasemin Kalyoncuoglu/Anadolu via Getty) It remained mysterious for many years, until in 2015, when researchers discovered a large amount of liquid mercury, which they suggested meant the structure was used to 'look into the supernatural world'. Mexican researcher Dr Sergio Gómez had spent six years slowly excavating the tunnel, which was unsealed in 2003 after 1,800 years (Picture: REUTERS/Henry Romero) In the excavation, they found three chambers at the end of a 300ft tunnel that sat almost 60ft below the temple. Near one of the entrances, they found a trove of artefacts which includes jade statues, jaguar remains, and a box filled with carved shells and rubber balls. And of course, they also found liquid mercury. This is not the first time liquid mercury has been found at an ancient site. Dr Rosemary Joyce said at the time archaeologists have found mercury at three other sites around Central America (Picture: INAH/Handout via Reuters) Dr Gómez suggests that the liquid may have symbolised an underworld river or lake. This idea is echoed by Dr Annabeth Headreck, a professor at the University of Denver. She told the Guardian that the shimmering reflective qualities of liquid mercury could have resembled 'an underworld river, not that different from the river Styx' (Picture: REUTERS/Henry Romero) She said: 'Mirrors were considered a way to look into the supernatural world, they were a way to divine what might happen in the future. It could be a sort of river, albeit a pretty spectacular one' (Picture: Apolline Guillerot-Malick/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty) Over the next 16 years, Dr Gómez and his team excavated over 3,000 ceremonial and ritual artefacts and have now developed a comprehensive survey of the pyramid and tunnel using LiDAR scanners and photogrammetry. And a few archaeologists have contributed their knowledge of the pyramid site and its cultural significance to amplify their understanding of the site (Picture: DeAgostini/Getty) The temple of Quetzalcoatl is a monument which lies in the centre of the Mesoamerican Teotihuacan universe. It sits around 12 miles northeast of Mexico City in the ancient city of Teotihuacán. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987, and receives around 4.5 million visitors annually. The Aztecs referred it as the place where the Gods were created, and the Quetzalcoatl is the third largest pyramid in the city (Picture: REUTERS/Henry Romero)
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Inside ‘gateway to underworld' underneath 1,800-year-old city which holds ‘toxic' secret that scientists ‘can't explain'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ANCIENT pyramid thought to be a 'gateway to underworld' was discovered to contain a hidden secret. The historic site, located in an ancient city, is thought to house a supernatural secret. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Archaeologists have spent decades uncovering the temple Credit: Reuters 6 The discovery is believed to have supernatural connections Credit: Reuters 6 Liquid mercury was discovered at the site in 2015 Credit: Reuters Quetzalcoatl Temple in Mexico, also known as the Feathered Serpent Pyramid is thought to have been built around 1,800 to 1,900 years ago. During an excavation project researchers discovered large amounts of liquid mercury in 2015. Its something experts believe means the structure was used to 'look into the supernatural world.' They also believe its presence could indicate that a king's tomb or ritual chamber could be lying underneath the ancient city of Teotihuacan. The pyramid was originally unsealed in 2003, allowing researchers like Dr Sergio Gómez to spend six years excavating the tunnel. During this excavation, researchers uncovered three chambers at the end of a 300 foot tunnel. In addition to the liquid mercury, they also found artefacts like jade status, jaguar remains, and a box of carved shells and rubber balls. The tunnels and adjoining structures lie 60 feet below the temple. In their 16 years excavating the temple, the research team uncovered over 3,000 ceremonial and ritual artefacts. They have used their discoveries to create a comprehensive survey of the pyramid and tunnel using LiDAR scanners and photogrammetry. Liquid mercury is not an uncommon discovery - with Dr Rosemary Joyce saying that archaeologists had found the substance in three other sites around Central America. Its believed that mercury symbolises an underworld river or lake. Dr Annabeth Headrick agreed with this interpretation, telling the Guardian that the the qualities of liquid mercury might appear to resemble "an underworld river, not that different from the river Styx. "Mirrors were considered a way to look into the supernatural world, they were a way to divine what might happen in the future. "It could be a sort of river, albeit a pretty spectacular one," Dr Headrick added. The Quetzalcoatl Temple is located around 12 miles northeast of Mexico City in Teotihuacán - the heart of the Mesoamerican Teotihuacan universe. Around 4.5 million people visit the temple - which is the third largest in the city - every year. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, and was listed on the World Monuments Watch in 2004 as tourist visitation led to the site's deterioration. More than a hundred human remains, which may have been sacrificial victims, were found under the structure in the 1980s. The Aztecs believed it was the place where Gods were created, with sacrifices being made as tributes. 6 The Temple is around 1,800 to 1,900 years old Credit: Getty 6 It is the third largest temple in the Teotihuacán region of Mexico Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Inside ‘gateway to underworld' underneath 1,800-year-old city which holds ‘toxic' secret that scientists ‘can't explain'
AN ANCIENT pyramid thought to be a 'gateway to underworld' was discovered to contain a hidden secret. The historic site, located in an ancient city, is thought to house a supernatural secret. Advertisement 6 Archaeologists have spent decades uncovering the temple Credit: Reuters 6 The discovery is believed to have supernatural connections Credit: Reuters 6 Liquid mercury was discovered at the site in 2015 Credit: Reuters Quetzalcoatl Temple in Mexico, also known as the Feathered Serpent Pyramid is thought to have been built around 1,800 to 1,900 years ago. During an excavation project researchers discovered large amounts of liquid mercury in 2015. Its something experts believe means the structure was used to 'look into the supernatural world.' They also believe its presence could indicate that a Advertisement Read more News The pyramid was originally unsealed in 2003, allowing researchers like During this excavation, researchers uncovered three chambers at the end of a 300 foot tunnel. In addition to the liquid mercury, they also found artefacts like jade status, jaguar remains, and a box of carved shells and rubber balls. The tunnels and adjoining structures lie 60 feet below the temple. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Exclusive In their 16 years excavating the temple, the research team uncovered over 3,000 ceremonial and ritual artefacts. They have used their discoveries to create a comprehensive survey of the pyramid and tunnel using LiDAR scanners and photogrammetry. Liquid mercury is not an Its believed that mercury symbolises an underworld river or lake. Advertisement "Mirrors were considered a way to look into the supernatural world, they were a way to divine what might happen in the future. "It could be a sort of river, albeit a pretty spectacular one," Dr Headrick added. The Quetzalcoatl Temple is located around 12 miles northeast of Mexico City in Teotihuacán - the heart of the Mesoamerican Teotihuacan universe. Advertisement Around 4.5 million people visit the temple - which is the third largest in the city - every year. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, and was listed on the World Monuments Watch in 2004 as tourist visitation led to the site's deterioration. More than a The Aztecs believed it was the place where Gods were created, with sacrifices being made as tributes. Advertisement 6 The Temple is around 1,800 to 1,900 years old Credit: Getty 6 It is the third largest temple in the Teotihuacán region of Mexico Credit: Getty 6 It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 Credit: Reuters
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mirror
'Disturbing' 2,000-year-old dolls discovered on top of pyramid by archaeologists
The discovery of the Bolinas figurines, a type of puppet-like artefact, could provide new insights into an ancient society A pair of intrepid archaeologists from the University of Warsaw made a groundbreaking discovery at the San Isidro site in El Salvador - five ancient clay figurines perched atop a dilapidated pyramid. This find, detailed in the journal Antiquity, features rare Bolinas artefacts, akin to puppet-like curios, which are incredibly scarce and were previously unearthed at the early Maya Tak'alik Ab'aj in Guatemala. The figurines date back over two millennia and offer tantalising prospects for shedding light on an olden Mesoamerican civilisation. Carbon-14 analyses confirmed that these pieces hail from between 410 and 380 B.C.E. These recently unearthed treasures, with mouths agape and ranging from mere inches to a sizeable foot in height, possess an interesting design. The larger ones even have removable heads with apertures suited for strings at their necks and craniums. Theorising upon their usage, scientists surmise that inserting string through these openings would allow the figures to be animated, much like rudimentary marionettes, reports the Express. Jan Szymaski revealed his impressions of these historical icons in an interview with ScienceLink's Lizzie Wade, saying: "They are clay actors. When you hold them in your hand, sometimes they even look creepy because of their vivid expressions. "Very little is known about the identities and ethnolinguistic affiliations of the creators of ancient settlements that predate the arrival of Europeans in the early 16th century. This gets worse the further back in time we look. This finding is only the second such a group found in situ, and the first to feature a male figure." El Salvador's pre-Columbian past remains shrouded in mystery, especially when contrasted with its Central American neighbours. The country's dense population coupled with countless years of volcanic activity have obscured and even destroyed many potential archaeological sites. It has been found that artefacts resembling those at San Isidro were also uncovered in parts of Guatemala and other areas in El Salvador as well as Nicaragua, Panama, and Costa Rica; this indicates a possible network between the inhabitants of San Isidro and distant cultures. The site of San Isidro consists mainly of clay formations, built by an unknown civilisation, and has not yet been fully investigated. Researchers stumbled upon the Bolinas figurines amid the remains at the peak of the site's biggest pyramid-shaped structure. Researchers are now hypothesising that these versatile Bolinas figurines could've had a significant role in "rituals that would involve recreation of some actual events or mythical events," as explained by Szymaski in a conversation with Benjamin Taub from IFL Science. Szymaski added: "This discovery contradicts the prevailing notion about El Salvador's cultural backwardness or isolation in ancient times, "It reveals the existence of vibrant and far-reaching communities capable of exchanging ideas with remarkably distant places."
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Science
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Disturbing' 2,000-year-old discovery found on top of pyramid by archaeologists
Archaeologists have made a profound discovery at the San Isidro site in El Salvador, uncovering five ancient clay figurines atop a dilapidated pyramid, signifying a significant archaeological milestone. The remarkable find was by Jan Szymaski and Gabriela Prejs of the University of Warsaw. The journal Antiquity reports that these artefacts, known as Bolinas figurines, are exceedingly unusual puppet-like creations. Previously, similar items were discovered at an early Maya site called Tak'alik Ab'aj in Guatemala. These earthen puppets, which date back over 2,000 years, could offer fresh understanding of an ancient Mesoamerican culture. Radiocarbon dating has pinpointed the creation of these five figurines to between 410 and 380 B.C.E. Each of the newly unearthed Bolinas figurines has gaping mouths and ranges from just a few inches to around a foot in stature. Of these, the three larger ones boast removable heads, along with minuscule openings in their necks and craniums, reports the Express. It's believed that a string was threaded through these openings and knotted atop the head, thus allowing the figures to be used akin to rudimentary marionettes. Jan Szymaski conveyed his thoughts on the figurines to ScienceLink's Lizzie Wade, saying: "They are clay actors. When you hold them in your hand, sometimes they even look creepy because of their vivid expressions. "Very little is known about the identities and ethnolinguistic affiliations of the creators of ancient settlements that predate the arrival of Europeans in the early 16th century. This gets worse the further back in time we look. This finding is only the second such a group found in situ, and the first to feature a male figure." El Salvador's pre-Columbian history remains largely shrouded in mystery compared to its neighbouring countries, according to a statement from Antiquity. The country's dense population and centuries of volcanic activity have resulted in significant damage and concealment of archaeological sites. Artifacts bearing resemblance to those unearthed at San Isidro have been found in Guatemala and other parts of El Salvador, as well as in present-day Nicaragua, Panama, and Costa Rica. This implies that the ancient inhabitants of San Isidro may have had ties with far-flung communities. The San Isidro site, predominantly made up of clay structures built by an unidentified group, remains largely unexplored. The Bolinas figurines were discovered by researchers while excavating the peak of the site's largest pyramidal structure. The researchers hypothesise that these versatile Bolinas figurines might have been used in "rituals that would involve recreation of some actual events or mythical events," Szymaski told IFL Science's Benjamin Taub. "This discovery contradicts the prevailing notion about El Salvador's cultural backwardness or isolation in ancient times," Szymaski stated. "It reveals the existence of vibrant and far-reaching communities capable of exchanging ideas with remarkably distant places."
