MEXICO: Archaeologists discover ancient Aztec monolith in capital city

Mexican archaeologists have found what may be the most significant Aztec ruin in decades, with the unearthing of an altar and a monolith in the busy heart of Mexico City, Mayor Alejandro Encinas announced on Wednesday (October 4). The 15th century altar, part of the Aztec empire's main temple, was uncovered last weekend near the city's main Zocalo square along with the 11-foot (3.5-m) stone slab, most of which is still buried. Archeologists are still unearthing the monolith which they think might be part of an entrance to an underground chamber. According to archaeologist Alvaro Barrero, the altar has a frieze of the rain god Tlaloc and another figure related to an agricultural rite. "There are two sculptures built in, two sculptures. A niche was formed to build these two same sculptures into it. The one on the north side represents Tlaloc, the god of rain and the one on the south side is a deity that is also related to agriculture. We have not determined yet who it is," he explained. Mayor Encinas said the discovery was of huge importance, and could help Mexicans find out more about Tenochtitlan, today's Mexico City, which was the ancient Aztec capital. "I think it's a very important discovery, of the same magnitude as the discovery of the Coyolxauqui 28 years ago, and that is going to allow us to reconstruct a lot of not just what was the Tenochtitlan architecture, but a lot of the foundation of Mexico-Tenochtitlan," he said. The find is particularly interesting as materials have been found at the site that come from Mexico's coastal areas, according to biologist Norma Valentin. "Basically the materials found are marine mollusks that come from the coasts of Mexico in the Panamic Caribbean province and the Panamic Malacologic province," she explained. The Aztecs began building the Templo Mayor pyramid-shaped temple in 1375. Its ruins are now only yards from downtown's choking traffic. It was first excavated in 1978 after electricity workers found an eight-tonne carving of an Aztec goddess. Spanish conquistadors destroyed the temple when they razed the city in 1521 and used its stones to help build their own capital.

ITN Source | October 6, 2006

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