An artifact believed to be Roman, previously discovered in the Americas, has resurfaced, sparking debate about who truly discovered the New World, and whether it occurred before Christopher Columbus in 1492.
The story involves a small, fired clay head of a bearded man, sculpted with distinctly European features, found inside a Mexican tomb. This piece, known as the "Tecaxic-Calixtlahuaca Head," was discovered in 1933 in a pre-Hispanic burial mound, where it lay beneath intact layers of earth, indicating that it had not been moved since its placement.
Archaeologists believe that the facial details, beard shape, and craftsmanship are more similar to artifacts from the ancient Mediterranean region than to the artistic styles of Central America.
In the 1960s, German archaeologist Bernhard Andrea concluded that the piece was "undoubtedly Roman," and stylistically linked it to the Severan period of the Roman Empire, around 200 AD.
Some scientific analyses also supported this view, as a dating was carried out using thermoluminescence technology, which measures the age of pottery by the light emitted when it is heated, and the results indicated that the piece was ancient, predating the arrival of Europeans in the American continent.
On the other hand, this discovery raised significant questions, especially since the tomb itself dates back to the late fifteenth century, a few years before the arrival of the Spaniards led by Hernan Cortés, making the presence of a Roman artifact in this context unusual.
Several explanations have been proposed to explain this discrepancy. Some researchers believe the head may have been introduced to the site at a later date, perhaps during the early stages of European exploration, when artifacts were often transported, traded, or lost from their original sources. Others have suggested the possibility of an archaeological hoax, particularly given the gaps in the excavation records from 1933.
Conversely, proponents of the piece's authenticity maintain that the context of its discovery—inside a sealed tomb and under intact layers—supports the hypothesis that it remained in place since its burial, making the explanation for its later insertion less likely.
In addition, other less common hypotheses have emerged, including the possibility of accidental contact across the Atlantic Ocean, whereby ancient ships from the Mediterranean region may have reached the Americas via ocean currents, and their cargo was then lost or recirculated locally, before being later incorporated into cultural or funerary contexts.
Although these hypotheses are interesting, a number of archaeologists emphasize that there is no other evidence, such as ships, settlements, or additional Roman artifacts, to support the existence of direct Roman contact with the Americas, which makes these interpretations highly doubtful.
This controversy is seen as an example of the challenges archaeology faces in interpreting discoveries that are inconsistent with known historical narratives, as unusual claims require strong and comprehensive evidence.
Although the prevailing historical belief denied the arrival of Europeans in the Americas before Columbus, the discovery of Norse settlements at Llanes-on-Meadows in Newfoundland proved that transatlantic contact had indeed occurred centuries earlier. Based on this, some researchers believe that Cape Tecaxic-Calixtlahuaca may represent a similar enigma, still requiring further evidence and precise scientific explanations.
It is worth noting that the most recent detailed research on this piece dates back to 2001, but interest in it has recently resurfaced after Arkeonews published a media report that brought it back into focus, which contributed to a renewed debate about it.
