Archaeologists from the National Insтιтute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have unearthed the remains of a young human sacrifice adorned with a precious jade ring at the ancient Maya city of El Tigre, located in the Mexican state of Campeche near the Río Candelaria.

El Tigre / Itzamkanak, Tabasco, Mexico: main pyramid. Credit: HJPD / CC BY 3.0

This remarkable discovery was made possible through ongoing excavations conducted in collaboration with the Mayan Train Project for the Improvement of Archaeological Zones, an initiative led by the Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico.

El Tigre, also known as Itzamkanac, was a thriving city with both ceremonial and commercial importance. Its occupation dates back to the Middle Preclassic period and continued until approximately 1557 CE, shortly after the Spanish conquest.

According to Diego Prieto Hernández, director of INAH, El Tigre served as the political capital of the province of Acalán, playing a vital role in regional affairs and attracting traders from across the Maya world.

The recent burial was uncovered in Structure 1 of the El Tigre Archaeological Zone, located west of the main pyramid-temple complex. Inside a sacred vessel, archaeologists found the skeletal remains of a young individual, positioned in a flexed posture and accompanied by a remarkably well-preserved jade ring.

Jade held profound cultural and symbolic value in Mesoamerican societies. Its vibrant green hue was ᴀssociated with life, death, fertility, and transcendence, making it a common element in ritual offerings and elite burials. It also symbolized spiritual power and social status, often used in funerary and ceremonial contexts.

According to Prieto Hernández, the jade ring discovered in this burial was likely worn by the individual during the Late Classic period (ca. 600–800 CE). The finding provides deeper insight into Maya mortuary rituals and their spiritual beliefs surrounding the afterlife and divine sacrifice.

This discovery contributes to a growing corpus of archaeological evidence in the region, including 177 pre-Hispanic human burials documented across various Maya sites during recent excavations. Each finding offers valuable clues about ancient belief systems, social hierarchies, and ritual practices.

The El Tigre Archaeological Zone itself comprises 15 large structures and numerous smaller constructions that shed light on the social organization, religious activities, and daily life of the ancient Maya. Plans are underway to enhance the site for tourism, including the installation of interpretive panels, signage, and other educational materials aimed at enriching visitors’ understanding.

As excavations progress, researchers aim to extract more precise information regarding the age, Sєx, and health of the individual, as well as any additional artifacts that might offer further context about the burial and its ceremonial function.

This latest discovery underscores the invaluable role of modern archaeological efforts in revealing the complex spiritual and cultural worlds of ancient Mesoamerican civilizations. Through initiatives like the Mayan Train Project, archaeologists continue to bridge the past with the present, preserving and interpreting a rich heritage for future generations.