Archaeologists in El Salvador have discovered the remains of a human skeleton interred in an unusual face-down position alongside a ceramic vessel shaped like a sea turtle. Dating back nearly 3,000 years, the find may belong to a pre-Maya civilization known for practicing human sacrifice.
According to a statement from El Salvador’s Ministry of Culture, the burial was located on July 2 in Antiguo Cuscatlán, a suburb of San Salvador, during an excavation led by archaeologist and Yale University doctoral student Carlos Flores Manzano.
While the skeleton is awaiting radiocarbon dating, its age is estimated based on its location beneath a layer of volcanic ash from the Plan de la Laguna crater. This ash layer is thought to date between 850 and 830 B.C., placing the site in the Middle Preclassic period of Mesoamerica.
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A ceramic vessel shaped like a sea turtle was discovered in the grave.
(Image credit: El Salvador Ministry of Culture)
This discovery suggests the area may hold further significant findings. Archaeologists speculate there could be larger burial mounds containing dozens of skeletons, similar to excavations conducted by William R. Fowler in the late 1970s at Chalchuapa. While Fowler interpreted similar finds as war captives being sacrificed, that theory has faced recent scrutiny, including from Flores Manzano in a 2020 study.
Flores Manzano suggested to Diario El Salvador that the unique burial position might reflect ancient cosmological beliefs regarding the underworld rather than ritual sacrifice. If this holds true, the sea turtle vessel found near the individual may be linked to Orion’s Belt, which played a role in sacred journeys in later Maya astronomy.
To ensure its preservation, the fragile remains were encased in plaster during recovery. The skeleton will now undergo chemical analysis to uncover details regarding the individual’s diet, lifestyle, and cause of death. Researchers expect these findings to be released to the public in approximately one year.
