1,400-year-old tomb featuring giant owl sculpture discovered in Mexico(cnn.com)
84 points by breve 5 days ago | 14 comments
- defrost 6 hours agoPrimary release from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History:
* https://www.inah.gob.mx/boletines/el-gobierno-de-mexico-anun...
Better than CNN english language reporting based on primary release:
* https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2026/01/an-intact-1400-yea...
Lack of location details and surrounds is deliberate in this type of work given the activities of looky lous and treasure hunter types, however there has been many years of prior work grinding through funery sites, burial "high rises", and cities of the dead:
The significance of the discovery is further consolidated through comparisons with other high-status Zapotec funerary contexts in the region, such as those at Monte Albán or Lambityeco. Due to its construction quality, decorative richness, and symbolic complexity, the newly discovered tomb joins this elite group, confirming the existence of a powerful and widespread artistic and religious tradition in the Central Valleys during the Classic period. It is not an isolated find, but a key piece that completes a cultural mosaic, providing new data on the standardization of certain rituals and the diversity of iconographic expressions of power in death. - shartshooter 7 hours agoI wish this article shared more about how this tomb was discovered. Was it buried under mountain of dirt? Under a jungle canopy no one explored? Has it been there all along at an existing ruins site but was hidden in some way? Give us details man![-]
- divbzero 3 hours agoI wonder if locals have always known about the tomb, but never realized it could be of interest on an international level.[-]
- throwup238 25 minutes agoSites are tracked by cultural ministries using restricted site inventories that are only open to government officials and established researchers. There are many more known sites than there is funding to excavate them so this one was likely known for decades before they got around to it.
These site inventories are generally filled using cultural resource management records submitted by surveyors, miners, construction companies, etc. who are often legally required to file them. A few tour guides I’ve used in Mexico found new ruins in the jungle and submitted their records with GOS coordinates and pictures. If locals knew about it, someone likely recorded the location a while ago.
- parl_match 4 hours agoThey likely do not want to give any details that allow third parties to figure out its location. It's frustrating, but their main goal right now needs to be imaging and preserving the art, and dating and identifying artifacts.
- juun_roh 1 hour agoOMG, Duolingo has been following us for 1400 years[-]
- shermantanktop 1 hour agoIt’s a tomb. Looks like the owl finally caught up with someone who didn’t do their lesson.
- jawilson2 2 hours agoDoes anyone know how to get past the CNN popup that only gives you the choice "Agree to collecting any and all private information"? There is no way to opt out, no way to disagree. I refuse to press it, and have not read CNN articles for the last year or so.[-]
- kevin_thibedeau 2 hours agoNoScript fixes the broken web.
- engineer_22 7 hours agoThe Zapotec civilization pre-dates the Aztecs and Maya and were the first to develop a writing system in Mexico.
Benito Juarez, President of Mexico during their revolution, was Zapotec.
The Zapotec people are still around today and a large number still speak their ancient language. A large number moved to LA and another group in New Jersey, but they're all over the US.
[-]- chrisco255 5 hours agoHow many are "pure Zapotec" vs a blend of Spanish/Aztec/Mayan/Tlaxcalan/Cempoaloan/Texcocan? Is it a genetically identifiable trait or just cultural?[-]
- frutiger 2 hours agoThere is no such thing as “pure X” when it comes to organisms.
- robofanatic 6 hours agoI just hate CNN subscribe screen. It completely locks my iPhone chrome browser. I have to kill the browser and reopen it to go back.[-]
- brycedriesenga 1 hour agoI recommend AdGuard. Blocks tons of annoyances like that