Articles

Longer essays on specific topics within Mexican burial heritage — written for readers who want more than a summary.

  • Weathered clay vessel — illustrative photo; ceramic offerings were common in pre-Columbian burials

    Archaeology · 12 min read

    The Western Mexico Shaft Tomb Tradition

    Deep vertical shafts leading to chamber tombs define a regional burial style that flourished for centuries in Jalisco, Colima, and Nayarit. This article explains the architecture, grave goods, and what the tradition tells us about social organization in ancient western Mexico.

  • Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacán — Mesoamerican sites including Monte Albán integrated tombs beneath ceremonial platforms

    Archaeology · 10 min read

    Inside the Painted Tombs of the Zapotec

    Recent excavations at sites like Atzompa have revealed vividly decorated burial chambers that challenge earlier assumptions about Zapotec elite culture. We examine the murals, their pigments, and what they depict.

  • Día de los Muertos ofrenda with marigolds, pan de muerto, and papel picado in Puebla, Mexico

    Traditions · 8 min read

    Graves, Altars, and Día de los Muertos

    How families prepare cemetery plots for the November observance, and why the distinction between grave and ofrenda matters for understanding the festival's meaning.