Maya 'portal to the underworld' found in Mexico

Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have studied the unique Maya canoe, which was discovered two years ago in the flooded Cenote of San Andrés (Mexico), and for the first time shared with their own conclusions.

A cenote is a natural sinkhole formed by the collapse of a limestone cave vault in which groundwater flows. The Maya considered them sacred places, at the bottom of which the gods and souls of dead people roam.

The canoe is 2.15 meters long, 45 centimeters wide and 36.5 centimeters high. It is definitely made in the traditions of the Maya, the scientists concluded. However, it was not used for its intended purpose - a very heavy bow and stern could not float in any way. Therefore, the boat was created for symbolic purposes. Most likely, for an offering to the gods.

And the cenote San Andreas itself was probably considered by the civilization of Mesoamerica as the entrance to the afterlife, scientists say. This is also indicated by the fact that it contained numerous human remains, as well as the bones of armadillos, dogs, turkeys and eagles. Experts have already identified 38 skeletons.

The predominance of armadillo bones among them leads experts to the idea of ​​the ritual use of the canoe and its placement in the cave before it was flooded.

Thanks to this study, scientists determined the exact age of the find. Radiocarbon dating of the canoe wood showed that it was created in the 16th century, and not in the period from 830 to 950, as previously thought.