Under the Mexican pyramid found liquid mercury

According to an archaeologist who discovered liquid mercury under the pyramid of the Feathered Serpent (this is the third largest pyramid of the ancient city of Teotihuacan), the presence of this metal may be evidence of the discovery of the grave of an influential leader. Archaeologist Sergio Gomez stated that he discovered a large amount of liquid mercury.

It is worth noting that Gomez has been working in this place for about 6 years, gradually expanding the tunnel under the pyramid. This tunnel was built by the inhabitants of the ancient city, 1800 years ago. Three separate chambers were found in this tunnel, and in front of these rooms, archaeologists found strange artifacts: rubber balls, jaguar bones, a jade statue and a whole box of carved shells.

Now excavations are becoming more complicated due to the discovery of liquid mercury: as you know, mercury vapor is toxic, and archaeologists have to use some protective measures. The mercury found here is not a unique find: spilled liquid metal was also found in other places of the ancient aboriginal settlements of Central America, including the Mayan and Olmec cultural buildings.
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Gomez believes that liquid mercury was supposed to symbolize an otherworldly river or lake, something like the River Styx, like that of the ancient Greeks. This is the entrance to the underworld, the transition from our familiar world. Most likely, the ancient inhabitants of the city had mercury magical significance, and was used in rituals.


Diagram of the pyramid and the tunnel under it (Handout / Reuters)

Mercury was mined from cinnabar by heating. Cinnabar was also used by the ancients as a red dye. Maya, for example, used cinnabar to decorate their temples and their own bodies.

The pyramid in question was built by an ancient civilization that flourished in the period of 100–700. ad. Perhaps the city was ruled by four leaders, who were then buried in the pyramids.