3,000-year-old remains unearthed in El Salvador

Archaeologists in Antiguo Cuscatlán have uncovered human remains believed to be nearly 3,000 years old, marking a significant archaeological discovery in El Salvador, authorities said.

The remains, first discovered on July 2 at a burial site in the capital suburb, are estimated to date back to around 850 BC, according to the Ministry of Culture. Found face down inside a burial pit, the remains will undergo radiocarbon dating to confirm their age, along with DNA analysis to determine the individual’s sex.

Excavations also revealed a small Usulután-style ceramic vessel shaped like a sea turtle, as well as preserved cassava branches buried beneath layers of volcanic ash—evidence of repeated natural events that helped conserve the site over centuries.

Officials believe the burial site may be linked to patterns observed at the nearby Chalchuapa Archaeological Site, one of the country’s most important ancient settlements.

In the 1970s, excavations at Chalchuapa uncovered the remains of 33 individuals—considered the earliest known evidence of human sacrifice in Mesoamerica. Many of the skeletons were found face down, with some showing signs of binding, mutilation or decapitation.

The latest discovery could provide valuable insights into early Mesoamerican burial practices and rituals, shedding light on a civilisation that thrived nearly three millennia ago.