New excavations in the ancient Mexican metropolis of Teotihuacan have revealed an elite residential compound featuring murals that depict gods from the Maya and Zapotec regions. This suggests a higher degree of ethnic integration and diplomatic exchange than previously theorized for the city during its peak in 450 CE.
The murals, painted in brilliant cinnabar red and jade green, show ritual offerings of cacao and quetzal feathers. Archaeologists believe this neighborhood served as an 'ambassadorial quarter' for visiting dignitaries from distant Mesoamerican states.