Omar Vazquez Herrera presents the discovery of the Mundo Zoque cave in Chiapas, Mexico.
Omar Vazquez Herrera, the director of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), revealed the discovery of the Mundo Zoque cave in the municipality of Cintalapa, Chiapas. The cave, located 20 meters below ground and measuring 100 meters in length, was identified following a formal complaint filed with the institute. Archaeologists led by Josuhé Lozada Toledo found 179 pre-Hispanic pieces and 13 offerings dating from the Late Classic period (600-900 A.D.). These artifacts include ceramic objects featuring iconography of jaguars, tecolotes, and vegetable motifs. One notable piece is a sahumador with a 32 cm handle depicting a quincunce, representing the four directions of the universe. The cave served as a pilgrimage site for the Zoques people to request rain and good harvests. The administration announced that inter-institutional collaboration between INAH, Conanp, and the Chiapas Tourism Secretariat will involve LiDAR studies and 3D scanning to preserve the site.