In a flooded cave, divers found a skeleton from 8,000 years ago - video

Divers exploring one of Mexico’s flooded caves made a remarkable discovery of a human skeleton from 8,000 years ago.

-- Advertisement --

A very interesting find was made by divers in Mexico who were exploring a flooded cave system. Archaeologist Octavio del Rio and his companion Peter Broger found human remains that must be about 8,000 years old. That’s when the cave was flooded by water during the last ice age.

A skeleton from 8,000 years ago.

While traversing the flooded tunnels of the cave, the two men noticed a shattered skull and skeleton lying at the bottom. The human remains were partially covered by sediment accumulated in the cave. It should be noted that the dive took place in one of the caves near the Mexican government plans high-speed tourist train.

The prehistoric remains made national and world headlines on the spot. From a scientific and cultural point of view, the skeleton from 8,000 years ago is a very valuable discovery, but not an isolated one. Many remains of humans and animals from many thousands of years ago survive in the region, especially in flooded Mexican caves.

Undoubtedly, the latest find only confirms that there is still much to be discovered, and the caves themselves must be protected. Their tunnels still hide the region’s past, which the water has protected from the outside world. Today, thanks to modern technology in the form of advanced diving equipment, we can explore and discover many similar sites.

We don’t know if the body was deposited there, or if that’s where the person died. Given the distance (1.5 km) from the cave entrance, the skeleton could not have gotten there without modern diving equipment. Therefore, we assume that it must be more than 8,000 years old. – Octavio Del Rio said.

The divers informed the National Institute of Anthropology and History of their discovery. Specialists from the institute’s branch in Quitana Roo state took an interest in the discovery. Scientists have registered the site as a new site and intend to study it as part of the Holocene Archaeology Project.

Endangered heritage

Unfortunately, from the information the two men provided, it appears that the cave is under serious threat. Although the location has not been disclosed, Del Rio revealed that a strip of jungle has already been cleared near it for the laying of a tourist train track. The construction of the railroad, known as the “Mayan Train,” is a flagship project of the incumbent president and a key element in his campaign for re-election.

Many reservations have been raised about the pace of the entire project. Numerous environmentalists have raised questions from the beginning about the threat to the natural environment and Mexico’s historical and cultural heritage. The area is full of dry and flooded caves that could be seriously affected by the work and the operation of the railroad itself.

Opponents of the president’s current actions stress that the construction of a tourist railroad is not a bad idea in itself. However, it must be preceded by proper studies to map out its route. All this is done so as not to lead to the destruction of Mexico’s priceless heritage.

Photo Screenshot from YouTube

The Cave Corals Project is undoubtedly a very interesting initiative, which we are publishing as part of our joint series with the XDEEP brand. You can read more about it in the 20th issue of our DIVERS24 quarterly! The digital version of the magazine is available free of charge, while you can purchase the printed version in our online store.