1,400-Year-Old Stela Found in Mexico May Show Ritual of 'Divine Liquid'

In Coatepec, Veracruz, archaeologists have unearthed an Indigenous settlement dating back 1,400 years, which includes a large stone platform and an engraved stela that might illustrate a ritual involving a 'divine liquid.' The excavation, conducted by Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), revealed a platform approximately 100 feet long and 40 feet wide, constructed from flagstones and heated limestone. The stela, standing around six feet tall, depicts two intricately adorned figures, one of whom is interpreted by INAH's Lino Espinoza Garcia as receiving a liquid, likely water. This site could signify a culture separate from the Totonac and Maya. Additional findings included burnt maize, buried vessels, and a broken greenstone bead. Claudia Curiel de Icaza emphasized the importance of this discovery for Mexico's cultural heritage.