Archaeologists have recently unearthed four well-preserved flower bouquets in the ancient city of Teotihuacán, located northeast of present-day Mexico City. These floral arrangements, dating back to approximately 1-200 C.E., were found in a tunnel beneath a pyramid dedicated to the deity Quetzalcóatl, the feathered serpent.

This discovery is notable as it marks the first time that such well-preserved plant material has been found within the ruins of Teotihuacán. According to Sergio Gómez-Chávez, director of the Tlalocan Project led by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the flower bouquets are still tied with ropes, likely made of cotton. This find provides significant insights into the rituals conducted at the site during ancient times.

During their exploration of the tunnel, Gómez-Chávez and his team also came across a sculpture of the rain and fertility god Tlaloc, along with numerous pottery pieces. The unexpected extension of the tunnel has opened new avenues for further investigation into the religious and ceremonial practices of Teotihuacán’s inhabitants.