Carved into volcanic tuff (tepetate) beneath the surface of the earth, these tombs consisted of a vertical shaft about 15 feet deep leading to one or more burial chambers below. A wooden ladder would be placed in the shaft, so the grave could be prepared with clay pots, figurines, musical instruments, and other furnishings. The body, bundled in cloth, would be lowered down the shaft and placed in the chamber, which averaged 8 by 10 feet in size, with a roof height above 5 feet. Then the ladder was removed and the entrance sealed by a stone slab.

In all likelihood, only elite individuals were accorded shaft tomb burials with their elaborate offerings. Some shaft tombs contained several individuals and gave the appearance of being re-entered several times. The time and effort required to carve a tomb out of the hard tepetate attest to the importance of the burial ritual.