In August 1980, during the leveling and floor change works of the church of Santa Elena, in the state of Yucatán, 12 small coffins were found, news that caused expectation in the population. The finding was published in a local newspaper with the title: "Los Enanos de Santa Elena."

This fact was reported to the Southeast Regional Center of the INAH, and a survey was carried out at the site of the discovery. The researchers who took part in the rescue of the remains were the Archaeologists Peter J. Schmidt, Norberto González and the Physical anthropologist Lourdes Márquez Morfín. As primary data, it was concluded that the remains corresponded to infant corpses that for some reason had not undergone the decomposition process of some soft parts of the body, being preserved in a state of mummification.

Of the 12 coffins, 3 had been transferred to the forensic department of the City of Merida Police; of the remaining 9 it was only possible to obtain 4, the remaining 5 that had remained in the baptistery were buried again under the mosaic floor in front of one of the lateral bases. Unfortunately the coffins were burned without any information being recorded about them. The remaining 4 with their respective coffins were subject to conservation and investigation by the Department of Restoration of the INAH Yucatán Center; vacuum packed.