Archaeologists have uncovered a 500-year-old mask depicting Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec god of death and the underworld. According to Live Science, the skull-shaped artifact was crafted for use in ritual ceremonies. In Aztec mythology, Mictlantecuhtli presided over the souls of the dead as they entered his realm, representing the civilization's complex beliefs about mortality and the afterlife.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton