Ancient shaman discovered in Mexican tomb: 1,500-year-old sculpture found guarding bodies in underground shaft

  • The tomb, complete with the figure, was uncovered by archaeologists in the city of Villa de Alverez in Colima, Mexico
  • Six pots of different sizes and human bones were found in the underground burial chamber along with the figure, which measures around 20 inches
  • Few of the statues have been found intact as many have fallen victim to grave robbers in the region

By Sarah Griffiths

PUBLISHED: 12:49 EST, 14 March 2014 | UPDATED: 13:18 EST, 14 March 2014

A team of archaeologists come across a shaman sculpture (pictured) in an underground burial chamber in the state of Colima, Mexico

A team of archaeologists come across a shaman sculpture (pictured) in an underground burial chamber in the state of Colima, Mexico

He has been guarding a tomb for over 1,500 years.

And only now have a team of archaeologists come across a shaman sculpture in an underground burial chamber in the state of Colima, Mexico.

It is unusual to find one of the statues intact as many have fallen victim to tomb raiders over the centuries.

The sculpture has a long face and holds a weapon - probably an axe - to guard the shaft tomb which was covered over by slabs of volcanic rock.

It was uncovered by archaeologists at the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) who have become the first people to see the sculpture in hundreds of years.

Archaeologist Marco Zavaleta explained that the model was found in the entrance of an underground funerary space in Villa de Alverez.

'With regards to the figure of the shaman, he was found upright and is holding some kind of weapon, probably an axe. He was placed exactly at the entrance, towards the crypt. He is some kind of a guardian of the main character deposited inside the shaft tomb,' he said.

Sites nearby have recently revealed burials of around 35 adults and three infants in cists - small stone coffin-like boxes or used to hold bodies from a slightly later period.

The square shaft, which is around one-and-a-half metres deep, is thought to date to between 300 AD and 600AD and leads to an underground vault measuring approximately two metres squared, containing bones of either one or two individuals, physical anthropologist Rosa Maria Flores Ramirez explained.

They could have been moved to the sides of the vault to make way for another individual who was found lying on his back, who was presumably buried slightly later.

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The sculpture has a long face and holds a weapon to guard the shaft tomb which was covered over by slabs of volcanic rock. Six pots of different sizes (pictured) were also recovered

The sculpture has a long face and holds a weapon to guard the shaft tomb which was covered over by slabs of volcanic rock. Six pots of different sizes (pictured) were also recovered

 

THE ANCIENT SHAMAN FIGURE

  • The statue is 1,500-years-old and was found in an underground tomb in a city in the state of Colima, Mexico.
  • It has a long face and holds a weapon to defend the final resting place of wealthy ancient people.
  • Other shaman figures discovered from the time are more representative of the ancient people, some of whom practiced cranial deformation to elongate their heads
  • They acted as soul guides for the dead in Meso-American cultures
  • Six pots and a gourd were also discovered, which further hint at shaman practices.
  • The figures are rare as many are damaged or stolen by grave robbers.

There is a theory that shaft tombs were used as homage to people’s ancestors as well as where people and shaman sculptures were buried.

 

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Six pots of different sizes and an earthenware bowl called a tecomate were also found in the shaft, along with the shaman figure, which measures 19.7inches (51cm).

The objects will be painstakingly cleaned in a bid to recover any traces of seed or other organic material, which could shed light on how the ancient people lived.

Archaeologist Marco Zavaleta (pictured) explained that the model was found in an underground funerary space in Villa de Alverez, in the state of Colima

Archaeologist Marco Zavaleta (pictured) explained that the model was found in an underground funerary space in Villa de Alverez, in the state of Colima

There is a theory that shaft tombs were used as homage to people's ancestors as well as where people and shaman sculptures were buried. Six pots of different sizes and an earthenware bowl called a tecomate were also found in the shaft, along with the shaman figure, which measures 19.7inches (51cm) in height

There is a theory that shaft tombs were used as homage to people's ancestors as well as where people and shaman sculptures were buried. Six pots of different sizes and an earthenware bowl called a tecomate were also found in the shaft, along with the shaman figure, which measures 19.7inches (51cm) in height

Other shaman figures discovered from the time are less stylised and more representative of the ancient people, some of whom practiced cranial deformation to elongate their heads.

It is believed that burials of this kind belonged to elite members of society as only richer people had the resources to fund such constructions.

Dogs were also buried with important people at the time as a guide to the underworld for the deceased and archaeologists have recovered what they think are dog’s teeth from the Villa de Alverez site, hinting that those laid to rest there were of high social standing.

It is believed that burials of this kind belonged to elite members of society as only richer people had the resources to fund such constructions. Here, the underground burial chamber which has lain undisturbed for 1,500 years is carefully excavated

It is believed that burials of this kind belonged to elite members of society as only richer people had the resources to fund such constructions. Here, the underground burial chamber which has lain undisturbed for 1,500 years is carefully excavated

The square shaft, which is around one-and-a-half metres deep, is thought to date to between 300 AD and 600AD and leads to an underground vault measuring approximately two metres squared (pictured), containing bones of either one or two individuals, according to the archaeologists

The square shaft, which is around one-and-a-half metres deep, is thought to date to between 300 AD and 600AD and leads to an underground vault measuring approximately two metres squared (pictured), containing bones of either one or two individuals, according to the archaeologists

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Aww, he is so cute. I could have sworn I saw him wink...

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Is the little figure a guardian as suggested, or a status symbol for one of those buried there? Fascinating discovery though.

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I think this is terrible that they are excavating a grave.

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sfhzdsfhfds

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The guy in charge of the comment department at DM should be fired! It's terrible tonight, with everyone posting 2-3 time to get through. This probably won't get through either!

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Site's been glitching for a few days now, and been down completely earlier today. Still having issues, isn't this fun?

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They have no idea what those figures are for. Didn't they burn all of the Aztec books? I am annoyed.

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The Catholic church is responsible for burning so many books and codices that didn't agree with it's idealogies ... and appropriating the rest to be held in the Vatican Library. It's a crime against humanity to continue to keep all that knowledge secret, but Catholic's were the most bloodthirsty, power-crazed and secretive organisation in the world and to this day they refuse to open their library for the good of humanity.

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Grave robbers.

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It's already been FAKED ... and is for sale on eBay

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I wrote my thesis on these figures 2 years ago! Oh how this discovery would have changed the outcome of it! T

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I wrote my thesis on these figures 2 years ago! Oh how this discovery would have changed the outcome of it!

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