Ancient burial site showing ‘complex funerary system’ discovered in Mexico

Mexican archaeologists recently discovered a cache of ancient bones during construction work.

The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) of Mexico said the burial dates back to the pre-Hispanic era.

Archaeologists discovered an ancient burial site in the city of Pozo de Ibarra. At that time, sewerage construction was going on there.

According to the archaeologists, all the bones were part of a "complex funerary system."

At least seven intact skulls were found that showed signs of "cranial modification," which researchers believe may have been done for aesthetic purposes.

Long bones, such as femurs, tibias, radii and ulnae, were carefully placed in a specific sector. Similarly, the skulls were intentionally grouped, some even stacked on top of each other, in another sector of the ossuary, the researchers noted.

The exact age of these bones is unknown, but may be as old as 1,500 years.

"The discovery is possibly related to the Amapa cultural phase (500-800/850 AD), because ceramic vessels and anthropomorphic figurines from that period were also recovered," the statement said.