Excavations at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Monte Albán in Oaxaca have brought to light a previously unknown 2,200-year-old Zapotec temple dedicated to the Jaguar-Warrior cult. The structure, found on a northern terrace, contains a series of intact red-pigmented limestone reliefs depicting warriors in elaborate jaguar-skin armor. These friezes retain their original cinnabar coloring, providing a rare look at the vibrant aesthetic of early Mesoamerican sacred architecture.
Lead researchers state that the temple's orientation suggests a specific alignment with the winter solstice, where the morning sun would illuminate a central altar carved in the shape of a jaguar's maw. The discovery of charred obsidian blades and jade beads around the altar confirms the site’s use for high-status ritual offerings during the early urban phase of Monte Albán. Plans are underway to build a protective canopy over the site to prevent erosion of the pigments.