Explorers Mistook 500-Year-Old Artifacts for ‘Trash’ That Was Found Deep Inside a Mexican Cave
What could be trash for one could be precious for the other. A pair understood this analogy very well when they investigated a cave in Mexico, according to Live Science. At first glance, what appeared to be a collection of waste turned out to be hiding several precious artifacts.
The discovery was made in Tlayócoc, a cave situated in the mountains of the state of Guerrero. The cave is 7,800 feet (2,380 meters) above sea level, and for a long time has remained unoccupied.
Archaeologist Katiya Pavlova and local guide Adrián Beltrán Dimas ventured into the cave in September 2023. The pair might be the first humans to enter the cave in five centuries, according to experts.
Researchers think that the cave has long been avoided because of its remote location, as well as a local rumor of it having 'bad air,' stated IFL Science. The pair had to walk for an hour from the nearest town to get to the cave's opening. The path not only had difficult terrains but also dangerous beings like snakes and pumas. The difficulty did not just end there; the road within the cave was also very hard.
The pair saw two openings and chose one to go into Tlayócoc. They were welcomed with a narrow passage, full of water. After venturing for 492 feet, both of them came across a narrow pool. In this pool, there was a gap of around six inches between the ceiling and the water. Pavlova still did not give up and also helped the local guide through the pool. They continued for around 98 feet until they could no longer move further, because the ceiling had come dangerously close to their head. This obstacle led to their breakthrough.
While looking around in the cave, the pair spotted three shell bracelets. At first glance, they thought they were wading through dirt, but closer examinations showcased it to be leftovers from another culture. In March 2025, another expedition was sent to the cave by the authorities.
Further investigation revealed the presence of a massive conch, a piece of mollusc bracelet, and a fragment of carbonized wood, according to Interesting Engineering. The archaeologist also noted several discs and sediment samples in the area. Experts observed that the shell rings were placed on rock formations resembling the shape of a male reproductive organ. This finding, along with the fact that shell rings were linked with the womb and underworld in several pre-hispanic cultures, led experts to conclude that these items were used in fertility practices.
Researchers also found incised patterns in three bracelets, according to Live Science. These patterns were identified to be an S-shaped symbol called 'xonecuilli' in pre-hispanic culture. The planet in the culture is typically associated with the measurement of time. As per examinations, the objects date back to somewhere between A.D. 950 and 1521. This suggested to researchers that the artifacts were made by individuals of the Tlacotepehua culture, which lived in the region, during that time. Experts speculate that the cave's environment aided these artifacts in surviving over centuries. They weren't attacked by humidity, and hence did not decompose.
The finding is valuable, as not much is known about this culture, according to Interesting Engineering. “It was a branch of the Tepuztecs, an ancient group that lived in the mountains and dedicated itself to working with metals, hence its name, tepuztli. They established their capital in Tlacotepec, a municipality that still exists and has its antecedents in these towns, so the temporality of the findings coincides with what the historical sources narrate,” lead archaeologist Pérez Negrete explained.