What remains have been found underwater in Mexico?
Mexican territory preserves submerged vestiges that connect natural and human history. Underwater—in cenotes, submerged caves, lagoons and coastal areas—researchers have recovered everything from megafauna bones to colonial ships, as well as pre-Hispanic settlements and ritual offerings. Each discovery provides a window into the past.
The search for and recovery of these remains combines technical diving, underwater archaeology and paleontology. Specialist teams use sonar, underwater photography and laboratory techniques. The results change our understanding of climate, fauna and ancient societies in what is now Mexico.
Paleontological remains: mammoths and megafauna
In flooded caves and lacustrine sediments bones of mammoths and other proboscideans have been found. In the Yucatán Peninsula, underground river systems have preserved skeletons from the last glaciation. Recent studies use CT scans to reconstruct bones and mineralized tissue, as we explain in tomography of a woolly mammoth.
Megafauna remains in aquatic contexts provide data on diet, movement and causes of extinction. We have discussed how fossils reveal that past in our article on fossils, remains that reveal the past. Recovered pieces allow comparisons of anatomy and environmental conditions.
Submerged caves: Hoyo Negro and Naia
One of the most emblematic finds is the female skeleton known as Naia, located in Hoyo Negro within the Sac Actun system. Her preservation under stable waters allowed dating to more than 12,000 years, providing evidence about the first inhabitants of the Americas and their relationship with flooded environments.
Submerged cave contexts act as preservation chambers. Sediments, low-oxygen waters and the absence of large scavengers facilitate the conservation of bones and organic material, a subject of special interest to paleontology, as we address in paleontology.
Archaeological remains: offerings and artifacts
Underground rivers and cenotes were sacred places for many Mesoamerican cultures. Underwater offerings, ceramics and human bone remains associated with ritual practices have been recovered. These finds rewrite perspectives on mobility, beliefs and the use of aquatic landscapes.
In some coasts and bays, coastal settlements were partially submerged by sea-level rise. Construction materials, pottery fragments and metal objects found mark changes in human occupation and in trade routes.
Shipwrecks and maritime heritage
Mexico’s coasts contain shipwrecks dating from the colonial era and precolonial routes. Remains of ships, cannons, cargo items and coins make it possible to reconstruct episodes of trade, piracy and conflict. Underwater archaeology works with authorities to protect that heritage.
The preservation of organic materials within marine sediment creates exceptional contexts but also preservation challenges when they are exposed to oxygen. Marine finds are often subject to specific legislation for their custody and display.
Human remains: cenotes and burials
Human remains, some with offerings, have been found in cenotes and submerged caves. These contexts often correspond to rituals and, in other cases, to ancient burials. Bioarchaeological study of those remains provides information on health, diet and genetic relationships among ancient populations.
Isotopic analyses and radiocarbon dating allow these burials to be placed in time. To understand the methods used in dating, see our text on dating of fossils, which explains procedures also applicable to archaeological material.
Environmental evidence: pollen, wood and sediments
Submerged sediments retain pollen, seeds and wood remains that reconstruct past landscapes. These samples show how forests, grasslands and resource availability changed. They also allow identification of drought, flood and coastal change periods linked to climate.
Plant remains preserved in anaerobic environments provide information about the diet of animals and humans, and about the conditions in which they lived. That evidence complements bone and ceramic finds, and together they build more complete histories.
Study techniques: applied technology
Modern underwater exploration combines high-resolution sonar, LiDAR in shallow areas, technical diving and 3D scanning. CT and micro-CT scanning make it possible to analyze bones without damaging specimens. Laboratory restoration and in situ conservation are fundamental for heritage.
At our Museo del Mamut, we value the use of these technologies to study remains, as shown in other posts about techniques and exhibitions, for example The Tultepec mammoth, curiosities about mammoths.
Highlighted cases, examples and results
Discoveries in Yucatán cenotes and in lacustrine systems of the Valley of Mexico have generated reinterpretations about human occupation and megafauna. Mammal remains, human bones and artifacts form a map of interaction between humans and the environment.
These findings fuel exhibitions and outreach programs and contribute to scientific collections displayed in museums dedicated to paleontology and pre-Hispanic history. Our museum participates in networks that conserve and disseminate these discoveries.
Conservation, challenges and responsibility
Protecting submerged sites faces threats such as resource exploitation, unregulated tourism and infrastructure works. Legislation and collaboration among scientists, authorities and local communities are essential to preserve these remains.
Responsible outreach helps society understand the importance of protecting submerged sites, not only for their scientific value but also for their cultural significance and their capacity to connect generations.
From research to display: museums and audiences
Recovered remains find a home in museums, where they are contextualized for the public. Exhibitions that combine original pieces, replicas and digital resources bring the past closer to diverse audiences. We have addressed the relationship between display and education in works on digital museums, for example digital museums of Mexico.
Our effort at the Museo del Mamut is to show how submerged finds are part of a broader narrative that connects paleontology, archaeology and local heritage.
Conclusion: what these remains mean
The remains found underwater in Mexico are fragments of deep stories, speaking of changing climates, of communities that used bodies of water for ritual and practical purposes, and of routes of exchange and shipwrecks. Preserving and studying them enriches our understanding of the past and strengthens cultural identity.
For those who wish to delve deeper, we recommend exploring our notes on prehistory, on how mammoths were studied in museum contexts, and on the importance of public dissemination of scientific knowledge in the country.
