The discovery was made by divers in 2021. A canoe lies deep in an underwater cave 4.6 meters deep on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Archaeologists discovered a total of 38 skeletal remains, including a human foot bone, as well as armadillo, dog, turkey and eagle bones.

opening details

• The presence of numerous armadillo bones and a human foot led the researchers to conclude that the canoes may have been used by the Mayans during a ritual and may have been deliberately placed in the cave.
• Researchers also believe the remains of an armadillo may be “a clue to entry to the underworld.” The Maya believed that caves and karst pits were gateways to the afterlife, and the armadillo was a symbol of the god L, a jaguar god with a cloak resembling the armored armor of an armadillo. The idea is that these animals are skilled swimmers, able to hold their breath underwater and use their claws to propel themselves forward. That’s why researchers believe the armadillo remains ended up there thanks to man.
• The canoe itself also provides archaeologists with further evidence that it was used as part of a sacred ceremony, as a “too heavy” bow and stern make swimming impossible.

The canoe was first dated to between 830 and 950 AD, but carbon dating has shown that the wood dates back to the 16th century, suggesting that the Mayans continued their rituals after the arrival of the Spanish.

Archaeologists will continue to dive deeper into the cave. The find has not yet been brought to the surface so that the remains do not collapse.