Grottos of Juxtlahuaca

Juxtlahuaca, or Xiuxtlahuaca, is a cave and archaeological site in the Mexican state of Guerrero containing murals linked to the Olmec motifs and iconography [1]. Along with the nearby Oxtotitlán cave, Juxtlahuaca walls contain the earliest sophisticated painted art known in Mesoamerica, and only known example of non-Maya deep cave art in Mesoamerica [1]. The Juxtlahuaca site is located some 45 km southeast of the state capital Chilpancingo in what is now a National Park [1]. The entire cave system is slightly over 5 km [1]. The most well-known of the cave art is Painting 1, which features a large bearded man with a black cloak, a striped tunic, and an elaborate headpiece [1]. Also of note in Juxtlahuaca is a painting of a red Feathered Serpent with green plumes, near a red jaguar whose large ears and eyes give it a youthful cast [1]. A dozen skeletons have been found in the so-called Hall of the Dead [1].