Photo: INAH
Mexico is filled with incredible archeology that gives clues about its rich pre-Columbian history. One of the most impressive structures, the Pyramid of the Sun, is full of new surprises. As the largest building in Teotihuacan, archaeologists have been continuously studying the structure, which was built around 100 CE. Though few artifacts have been found on-site, in 2011 a surprising discovery was made by researchers from Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
By using a 380-foot-long tunnel dug by archeologists in the 1930s, the
group was able to get to the mother-rock level. Once there, they discovered a
rare cache of treasures. This included shards of clay pottery, animal bones,
pieces of obsidian, three serpentine human figurines, and a stunning serpentine
mask. The green mask is particularly interesting because, at the time of its
discovery, it was the only mask of its kind to be found in a ritual context in
Teotihuacan.
It's believed that these offerings were left as part of a ritual to
inaugurate the construction of the pyramid—hence its location at the lower
level. The mask itself is extremely lifelike, which gave rise to the theory
that it's actually a portrait. This would be incredible, as archeologists have
little information about the people who constructed Teotihuacan. There are also
conflicting theories about the exact use of the pyramid. Even the name isn't
original.
Photo: Stock Photos from Barna Tanko/Shutterstock
It was actually the Aztecs, who visited Teotihuacan centuries after it
was abandoned, that named it Pyramid of the Sun. The original name of the
world's third-largest pyramid remains unknown. Teotihuacan was a thriving city
once called the City of the Gods. At its peak, 200,000 people called it home.
And yet, researchers have little to no idea who these dominant people were and
why these vanished without a trace.
With so much information to discover, it's not a surprise that INAH
continues to conduct research in the area. In fact, more recently, an
underground tunnel was found under the nearby Pyramid of the Moon. By using
electrical resistance technology, they were able to map the tunnel without
breaking ground.
The subterranean chamber, which is proceeded by a chamber measuring 49
feet in diameter, could be the home of even more treasures. Hopefully, these
cumulative findings will shed more light on this great civilization and reveal
more about its demise. “These large offering complexes constitute the sacred
heart of the city of Teotihuacán, the reason why everyone saw it as the mecca
of the civilization,” said Verónica Ortega, director of the Integral
Conservation Project for the Plaza of the Moon. “What can be found inside them
will help unravel the relationship this ancient metropolis had with other
regions of Mesoamerica.”
Via : mymodernmet
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