Archaeologists in Mexico Discover Ancient Rock Art During Rail Project

Specialists recorded 16 petroglyphs and cave paintings dating from prehistory and the Mesoamerican Postclassic play (900-1521 AD). Credit: Gerardo Peña / INAH

Archaeologists successful Mexico person uncovered past stone creation during operation enactment linked to a large obstruction project, officials said.

The find was made arsenic portion of the Archaeological Salvage Project for the Mexico City–Querétaro rider train, led by Mexico’s Ministry of Culture done the National Institute of Anthropology and History.

Researchers identified 16 graphic elements astatine a tract known arsenic El Venado, oregon Site 77, successful the authorities of Hidalgo. The images look connected 2 cliffs adjacent the Tula River and the La Requena Dam, adjacent to the communities of San José Acoculco and Benito Juárez.

Figures uncover quality and carnal forms

The findings see some petroglyphs, carved into rock surfaces, and painted figures. Based connected style, experts judge the artworks day from prehistoric times to the Postclassic period, betwixt 900 and 1521 CE. Some faded images whitethorn beryllium much than 4,000 years old.

Several figures amusement elaborate quality and carnal forms. One representation depicts a fig successful illustration holding a chimalli, a accepted shield, with a stepped plan connected the chest.

Another fig wears a headdress and circular oculus coverings akin to those linked with the rainfall deity Tlaloc and appears to transportation a macana, a woody club.

Archaeologists recovered 16 petroglyphs and paintings successful Hidalgo, Mexico immoderate implicit 4,000 years old. The obstruction way was changed to support the site, showing improvement and practice tin coexist.#Archaeology #Mexico #History #CulturalHeritage pic.twitter.com/QlOEv6ieYq

— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) April 14, 2026

A 3rd figure wears a feathered headdress and extends its limbs outward, with a circular entity betwixt the legs. Other images see a carved look with a chemoreceptor ornament, a deer-like animal, and a achromatic stripe created by removing pigment from a reddish background.

In the aforesaid shelter, researchers besides recovered a red-painted quality fig and shapes that whitethorn correspond a serpent oregon a lightning bolt.

Styles suggest determination taste links

Near the river, archaeologists recorded further figures, including a cervid and a analyzable human-like signifier with fangs, antennae, and bird-like legs.

Its features lucifer creator traditions linked to the Mogollon culture, suggesting imaginable taste connections crossed regions. Another hybrid fig with a quality look and animal-like legs whitethorn day to the play of Spanish contact.

Techniques and documentation enactment analysis

Preliminary investigation indicates that the paintings were made utilizing mineral oregon plant-based pigments, portion the carvings were created utilizing a stippling technique. Researchers documented the tract utilizing photography and photogrammetry to enactment a elaborate survey and examination with akin findings.

The site was archetypal recorded successful the 1970s during the Tula Archaeological Project led by Eduardo Matos Moctezuma. Archaeologists judge the placement of the images whitethorn bespeak ritual oregon symbolic purposes, perchance linked to cosmology oregon timekeeping systems.

Rail way changed to support the site

Officials adjusted the obstruction way successful 2025 aft Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, approved changes to support the site. Experts said the artworks cannot beryllium relocated.

The determination allowed operation to proceed portion preserving the remains, highlighting efforts to equilibrium improvement with taste practice protection.