Archaeologists constantly uncover intriguing discoveries during their excavations.
From the remains of ancient rulers to newfound artifacts, their work is filled with excitement.
Such discoveries were recently made at a site in Mexico.
The team was exploring the Pyramid of the Sun, a prominent pre-colonial monument in Mexico.
Construction of this pyramid is believed to have occurred around 100 CE.
Although initially, few artifacts were unearthed, a 2011 excavation by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History yielded remarkable artifacts.
The team accessed the mother-rock level using a tunnel constructed by archaeologists in the 1930s.
Here, they discovered items including clay pottery fragments, animal bones, and three serpentine human figurines.
The most significant find was a green serpentine mask.
This discovery was particularly noteworthy as such a mask had never been found in this context within the region.
The items are thought to have been offerings from a temple inauguration ritual.
The mask’s lifelike appearance suggests it could be a portrait.
Whose portrait might this be, you ask?
Social media users were quick to draw comparisons between this archaeological find and Jim Carrey’s character in the 90s film The Mask.
“Sssmokin’!” a Reddit user quipped.
Another commented: “Uh oh, here we go again. DO NOT PUT THAT ON YOUR FACE!!!” and added: “Jim Carrey has entered the chat.”
Turning back to reality, the site is located within the ancient city of Teotihuacan.
The Aztecs later named the temple, with its original name lost to history.
Teotihuacan thrived with a population of around 200,000 at its height.
Despite their prominence, much about them remains elusive today.
Their disappearance is still a mystery.
A 49-foot-wide room connected to the chamber beneath the temple offers future archaeological potential.
Verónica Ortega, director of the Integral Conservation Project for the Plaza of the Moon, stated: “These large offering complexes constitute the sacred heart of the city of Teotihuacán, the reason why everyone saw it as the mecca of the civilization.
“What can be found inside them will help unravel the relationship this ancient metropolis had with other regions of Mesoamerica.”
The allure of ancient civilizations has captivated people for ages and will likely continue to do so.
While there’s more to their work than adventure film antics, archaeologists uncover many fascinating artifacts.