Pre-Columbian Skeletal Remains Discovered in Quintana Roo Cenote
Mexican authorities have announced the discovery of pre-Columbian skeletal remains belonging to a young woman, identified as Yatzil, in the Yaakun cenote near Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) reported that custodians spotted submerged materials in late 2025, leading to an underwater archaeological survey. Preliminary analysis suggests Yatzil was between 18 and 25 years old, with ceramics found nearby potentially dating to the Late Postclassic period (1200–1521 AD). The find is part of ongoing efforts to document ancient underwater sites on Mexico's Caribbean coast.
Deep in the underground waters of the Yaakun cenote in Quintana Roo, divers have documented the skeletal remains of a young woman. Mexican authorities revealed the discovery last week, noting the individual may have lived in pre-Columbian times. Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) stated that custodians of the cenote, located approximately 12 kilometers from downtown Playa del Carmen, reported the find after technical divers spotted submerged materials in late 2025.
Within months of the initial report, underwater archaeologist Gustavo García García led a five-day survey. Conducted at depths of 42 to 53 meters (138 to 174 feet), the survey confirmed a cluster of human bones and, about 30 meters away, ceramic vessels.
Preliminary analysis indicates the individual, named Yatzil, was between 18 and 25 years old, based on skeletal features and limited dental wear. Researchers have identified long bones, the pelvis, a cranium, and part of a mandible with three molars. Her remains, currently submerged in a sloping chamber about 45 meters below the surface, are considered well preserved due to stable underwater conditions, including low light and temperature.
The ceramics found nearby, primarily globular pots likely used domestically in the eastern Maya region, may date to the Late Postclassic period (1200–1521 AD). However, researchers are exercising caution regarding a precise date or cultural affiliation for Yatzil's remains, as her chronology remains unknown, despite the ceramics likely dating to the pre-Columbian period, prior to the Spanish conquest in the early 1500s.
INAH specialists anticipate waiting for DNA from a tooth, scheduled to be removed in a second field session in 2027, before drawing firmer conclusions. Authorities have launched the Cenote Yaakun Research Project to document and protect the site, establishing a perimeter and urging divers not to disturb the materials. Culture Minister Claudia Curiel de Icaza highlighted the importance of collaborating with local communities on such discoveries, emphasizing that each archaeological find strengthens knowledge about past cultures and reaffirms heritage as a shared responsibility.
This project represents the latest underwater discovery on Mexico's Caribbean coast, a region where at least 11 prehistoric skeletons have been identified in flooded caves and cenotes between Playa del Carmen and Tulum in recent decades. One discovery reported earlier this year is estimated to be approximately 8,000 years old.
According to Mexico News Daily, with additional reports from Infobae and Informador.
