Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have uncovered ancient hunting tools dating back approximately 1,900 years, in the Cueva del Tesoro (Treasure Cave), located in the central state of Querétaro, Mexico.
The cave, situated in Cadereyta de Montes, holds significance as a repository of artifacts from early hunter-gatherer societies.
The discovery, initiated by members of the Association of Cavers of Querétaro, revealed a collection of hunting instruments, including an atlatl (spear-throwing lever), wooden darts, and modified logs likely used as multifunctional tools. The atlatl, measuring 51.5 centimeters, played a crucial role in increasing the range and velocity of thrown projectiles, enabling hunters to target prey at a greater distance.
These tools, preserved for approximately two millennia due to the cave’s dry environment, offer a glimpse into the lives of hunter-gatherer communities that inhabited the region as early as 7,000 BCE. The semi-desert areas of Querétaro and Guanajuato attracted nomadic groups, evident from abundant rock art and the discovery of prehistoric artifacts in neighboring cave systems.
INAH archaeologists, aided by members of the Querétaro Cavers’ Association, ascended over 600 feet from the bottom of a ravine to reach the cave entrance. The exploration involved traversing a narrow passageway leading to the gallery where the ancient tools were found.
Carlos Viramontes, one of the archaeologists involved in the excavation, emphasized the significance of the discovery in shedding light on hunter-gatherer societies present in the region for over 9,000 years. Viramontes noted that the preservation of these hunting instruments was facilitated by the dryness of the cave, allowing for a radiocarbon study that placed their origin between CE 7 and 132.
The findings in the Cueva del Tesoro are described as one of the few complete sets of pre-Columbian hunting tools discovered in Mexico to date. The tools, including an atlatl, two wooden darts, and modified logs, were used by ancient communities whose lifestyles evolved over centuries, with some transitioning to settled agricultural practices while others maintained traditional hunter-gatherer ways.
The location of the discovery remains a puzzle, and the mystery deepens as no other pre-Hispanic artifacts were found in the cave.
This recent revelation echoes previous archaeological breakthroughs in Mexico, such as the discovery of human remains, pottery fragments, and artifacts in caves in Quintana Roo.
The importance of the Cueva del Tesoro discovery is underscored by comparisons to earlier findings in the 1950s by American archaeologist Cynthia Irwin-Williams. Irwin-Williams unearthed projectile arrows dating back to 7000 BCE in the El Tecolote cave near Tequisquiapan, Querétaro.
Another significant discovery announced by INAH early this year included human remains and various artifacts between 2,500 and 4,500 years old in a cave in the state of Nuevo León.
