More than a decade since archaeologist Sergio Gomez began excavating the Tunnel under the Serpent Temple (also known as the Quetzalcoatl Pyramid, Mexico), researchers are still dedicating much of their time to studying numerous sacred artifacts carefully placed there by priests around 2,000 years ago.
The diversity of the relics hidden in this sealed tunnel has shattered records for other discoveries at Teotihuacan. This ancient city was once the most populous urban center in the Americas and is now a top tourist attraction in Mexico.
Over 100,000 Artifacts
A necklace made from seashells discovered in a 2,000-year-old tunnel beneath the Serpent Temple.
To date, the enormous number of artifacts from the tunnel has been cataloged for research. From intricately carved statues, seashells, and ceramics to thousands of wooden and metal objects that have remained intact over time.
During a recent tour of the tunnel and conservation area, where Sergio and 30 other colleagues spend time researching, he showcased some astonishing findings that had not been previously disclosed. Many samples depict ancient rituals along the 100-meter-long tunnel.
“You can see it,” Sergio illuminated an amber sphere the size of a tennis ball with his phone light. When lit, the sphere appeared like molten lava. This is the first time a decorative object made from amber has been found in Teotihuacan.
Another item discovered resembles a cigarette; the archaeologist speculates it may have been a type of tobacco worn around the neck of the priest. In ancient rituals in Mexico, priests descending into the tunnel may have consumed hallucinogenic plants or mushrooms as part of the ceremony.
Sergio Gomez further explained that the tunnel is intricately designed with just the right height to be dazzling. The walls and even the floor are coated with iron pyrite, a mineral resembling precious metals. “We can imagine how the tunnel would sparkle when the priests entered with a torch,” archaeologist Sergio Gomez described.
Through scientific dating technology, the research team believes that although the tunnel is somewhat damp, it has been in use for over two centuries until around 250 AD.
It is known that Teotihuacan was a wealthy nation contemporaneous with ancient Rome and China. Thriving from around 100 BC to 550 AD, it was home to approximately 200,000 people, primarily living in large family groups beneath massive stone blocks. Some evidence of life is depicted through colorful wall paintings.
Currently, much remains unclear about the ancient lives of the people here. Researchers are investigating whether they developed a written language similar to that of the Aztecs. Observations also suggest that these people may have dominated the region for about eight centuries before the fall of Teotihuacan.
A researcher examining preserved plant remains in the tunnel.
Astonishing Discoveries
Continuing further, Sergio stopped at an area where many large treasures were found. He described this as a location with a special structure featuring 17 distinct layers of shells meticulously arranged by priests. The top layer was crushed by the weight of those stepping on it.
To uncover such a wealth of remains, Sergio Gomez’s excavation has spanned decades. The structures here are in such remarkably good condition that hair from the buried individuals can be found.
It seems that the rituals in this tunnel were related to sacrifices for the lords of the underworld and the city’s chief deity, the storm god. Dozens of glossy black jars, nearly identical in design, were discovered.
Among the offerings, the most abundant are hundreds of artifacts made from royal jade, one of the most precious gemstones in the world. These objects include earrings, necklaces, and pendants, one of which is shaped like a crocodile.
Some items believed to be imported from Honduras, including beads, plates, and the lower halves of cups, were also excavated. Additionally, this area contained 8,000 wooden objects, plates, and skulls of 30 predatory animals such as jaguars and lions.
A deep hole carved into the floor of the tunnel, previously forgotten, has also been discovered by scientists. It is likely that some priests performed rituals by dropping bundles of flowers into it, topped with a pile of wood, corn, chili, and nopal cactus, along with a miniature carved stone pyramid. The entire assembly was then set ablaze.
Thanks to retrieving wood samples from the pit, Sergio will soon determine the exact year this smoking ritual took place. Preserved plant remains from the ceremony have also been found for the first time at Teotihuacan.
With these new discoveries, Sergio Gomez expressed excitement, stating: “These things are truly unique. They make you feel closer to the residents who once lived here.”
