Several bouquets of flowers for offerings have been discovered 59 feet below the temple of the god Quetzalcoatl, a pyramid that still stands in the ruins of the Mexican city of Teotihuacán.

Quetzalcoatl, or ‘Feathered Serpent’, was an important god during ancient Mesoamerica, a historical region that included central Mexico to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica.

This deity was said to have given corn to humanity and was responsible for the creation of humanity, which is why floral offerings were discovered beneath the god’s temple.

Sergio Gómez, an archaeologist at Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History, said the stems are in good condition and are still tied with the original cotton cords.

‘In total there are four bouquets of flowers in very good condition, they are still tied with ropes, probably cotton,’ Gómez told the Mexican media La Jornada.

‘This is a very important find because it talks about the rituals that were carried out in this place.’

Gomez says it’s too early to determine what type they are, but he hopes to solve that mystery soon.

‘Although we do not know the exact date of when they were deposited, because we just removed them this week, they must be very old and correspond to the first phases of Teotihuacán, between 1,800 and 2,000 years ago,’ Gómez explained.

The stems are in good condition and still tied with the original cotton cords. Teotihuacán, with its enormous pyramids of the sun and the moon, is made up of a labyrinth of palaces, temples, homes, workshops, markets and avenues. The city is believed to have been built in 100 BC and existed until the 8th century.

‘We have found complete objects that were placed in this shot; The ceramics are also from the Zacuali and Miccaotli phases, from the beginning of our era, between years zero and 200 AD.’

Gómez has been working in the ruined city for almost 12 years, examining soils, rocks and ancient pyramids for clues about who once called the area home.

About 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Mexico City, Teotihuacán, with its enormous pyramids of the sun and moon, is made up of a labyrinth of palaces, temples, houses, workshops, markets and avenues.

The city is believed to have been built in 100 BC. C. and existed until the 8th century. Archaeologists consider it one of the most influential in pre-Hispanic North America, with a population of 200,000 at its peak.

However, only 5 percent of Teotihuacán has been excavated despite more than 100 years of exploration. During the excavations, Gómez recovered more than 100,000 artifacts within the ancient city and specifically beneath the three pyramids that still stand.

However, the offering flowers are the first intact botanical materials found at the site.

‘It is very relevant because it will give us clues to the flora that was used for ritual purposes,’ said Gómez.

‘In this same context, while the earth was being sifted, several kilos of charcoal were found, the product of a ritual ceremony that included the burning of seeds and fruits.’

In 2011, archaeologists discovered other offerings at the base of the pyramid, including animal remains, three human figures and a haunting green mask used in rituals 2,000 years ago.

Pérez Cortés, a researcher at the INAH Center in Zacatecas, said in a statement when the mask was discovered: “We know that [the offerings] were deposited as part of a dedication ceremony.”

The mask was carved from a single jade stone and is the only one of its kind discovered in the ancient city.