ZACATECAS.- An urban legend whispered among locals in Zacatecas, Mexico, about a primary school built atop an old cemetery turned out to hold a kernel of truth. On April 24, 2025, during rehabilitation work at the Valentín Gómez Farías Primary School, the bone remains of eight infants and one adult, believed to be from the 19th century, were discovered, bringing a buried layer of the city's history to light.

The unexpected finding occurred as part of renovation efforts on the school building, which dates back to the 17th century. The work, overseen by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), involved excavating two pits for soil analysis when the remains were encountered. Specialists in archaeology, physical anthropology, and conservation were quickly brought in to carefully recover the delicate materials.

Among the most striking discoveries was a small wooden coffin, just 80 by 35 centimeters, adorned with blue rhombus engravings. Inside lay the remarkably well-preserved complete skeleton of a very young infant, wrapped in a brown shroud. Physical anthropologist Lilian Ivette García Maya noted the unusual burial orientation – the infant's feet pointing southeast instead of the traditional east in Catholic burials – suggesting a possible deviation from standard practice for reasons yet unknown.

Additional remains were found above and below this central burial, including those of four more infants and an adult's femur and heel bone situated above the coffin. Below, three more bundles containing infant skeletons were discovered. Preliminary assessments suggest the infants ranged from perinatal age (born and died around the time of gestation) up to six years old, while the adult's age is still to be determined through further analysis. The general state of preservation for these remains is considered moderate.

Archaeologist Baudelina Lydia García Uranga explained that while definitive dating awaits laboratory analysis of the bone collection, the context strongly points to the 19th century. The school building's history as a convent and hospital for the Order of Saint John of God, followed by the Mercedarian order – both involved in care, including medical services – aligns with such burials.

Supporting this 19th-century theory are other artifacts found alongside the remains, including a coin dated 1862 and a keystone from an arch featuring the Mercedarian coat of arms in a Baroque-style relief. This architectural element was identified by INAH historian Limonar Soto Salazar and is associated with the first Mercedarian convent in Zacatecas, located near the Bufa hill.

Other recovered items, such as buttons, fabric fragments, a piece of paper with text in an unknown language, ceramics, and metals, will provide valuable context and serve as study material for anthropology students. All the unearthed remains and artifacts will be securely stored at the Museum of Guadalupe for comprehensive analysis and investigation scheduled for the second half of the year.

This significant archaeological discovery offers a rare glimpse into the lives, deaths, and funerary practices of past inhabitants of Zacatecas, enriching the understanding of the city's over 400 years of documented history and bringing a long-held urban legend to its factual conclusion.