The remains of at least 3,000 suspected cartel murder victims have been discovered in northern Mexico.

Activists found the skeletal remains on Saturday after an anonymous tip-off that the area was being used as an 'extermination center' by gangsters.

They say the bodies were likely dissolved in acid, burned, then broken up with shovels in an attempt to dispose of them.

The remains of at least 3,000 suspected cartel victims have been discovered in northern Mexico, with activists saying it appears the bodies were cooked in acid

Alongside the bones the activists discovered bullet casings, shoes, clothes and human teeth

The bodies were burned 'for hours', the activists said, with diesel, scrap tires and pieces of wood thrown in to help the blaze.

Once the fire was out whatever was left was poured on to the floor where it was smashed to pieces with shovels.

Alongside the bones, members of Victims' Rights In Action (Vida) found bullet casings, clothes, shoes and human teeth.

The grisly remains were discovered in Coahuila state on Saturday, Telesur reported.

It is believed the bones were burned for hours in metal drums before whatever was left was smashed up with shovels

A group spokesman said the true number of victims was likely far higher because no digging has yet taken place pending the arrival of government inspectors.

The area measures around 100 square meters and is located between two communal farming plots according to Silvia Ortiz, who is a member of Vida.

She joined the group looking for daughter Stephanie Sánchez Viesca Ortiz, who went missing in November 2004, when she was 16 years old

After Forensic Medical Examiners (Semefo) arrive, they will send the remains to a laboratory in Mexico City for thorough examination.

The attorney general's office of Coahuila told Telesur that only the Sinaloa Cartel was known to operate in the area, but analysts have also attributed the turf to Los Zetas.

Since 2015, Vida has located the bodies of more than 90,000 people in at least 40 clandestine mass grave sites.