Circular temple to god of wind uncovered in Mexico City

By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN

 

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Working at the site of a demolished supermarket, archaeologists dug 10 feet down to find a temple built more than 650 years ago, researchers said Wednesday.

 

The circular platform, about 36 feet in diameter and four feet tall, now sits in the shadow of a shopping mall under construction. The site is believed to have been built to worship the god of wind, Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl, and the plans to preserve it and make it visible to the public with a large viewing window.

 

What archaeologists initially found below the old supermarket — shards of pottery and human remains — was expected, said Pedro Francisco Sanchez Nava, national archaeology coordinator for Mexico's National Anthropology and History Institute.

 

But deeper down they were surprised to find the temple, which offers another example of how the Mexica-Tlatelolca people worshipped one of their principal deities, Sanchez said. Offerings found included an infant with no signs of trauma, bird bones, obsidian, maguey cactus spines and ceramic figurines of monkeys and duck bills.

 

The majority of the temple's original white stucco remains intact. Archaeologist Salvador Guilliem said similar structures, round on three sides and with a rectangular platform on the fourth, have been found before, including in the same area.

 

The temple lies within the perimeter of a large ceremonial site in the capital's Tlatelolco neighborhood, though much of that perimeter is invisible, covered by an urban landscape.

 

Eduardo Matos Moctezuma, researcher emeritus, said modern day Mexico City covers several different pre-Hispanic cities, including Tlatelolco and its rival Tenochtitlan.

 

Tenochtitlan was a center of political power while Tlatelolco dedicated itself to commerce, with an important market that was noted even by Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes. Eventually Tenochtitlan took control of Tlatelolco.

 

When the Spanish and their indigenous allies began conquering Tenochtitlan, residents of that city withdrew to Tlatelolco to continue the fight and Tlatelolco became the last site of resistance against the Spanish in the area.

 

The site of the recently uncovered temple is just yards away from where Mexican soldiers massacred protesting students in 1968.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-12-01

650...maybe should read 6,500.

1 minute ago, tandor said:

650...maybe should read 6,500.

 

You think we are in the 66th century now?

4 hours ago, webfact said:

bird bones......cactus spines....duck bills.

 

As a god of wind myself, I can confirm that daily offerings of fried chicken, beans and somtam are important for maintaining that supernatural power.

On 11/30/2016 at 7:40 PM, tandor said:

650...maybe should read 6,500.

Why???

On 11/30/2016 at 7:49 PM, Sphere said:

 

As a god of wind myself, I can confirm that daily offerings of fried chicken, beans and somtam are important for maintaining that supernatural power.

Beans for sure can create intestinal gas ... especially if not prepared and cooked properly. But fried chicken and somtam??? I eat both several times a week for many years and I've yet to see these foods produce any significant gas.

9 hours ago, HerbalEd said:

Why???

 

 

 

why !.....650 years ago seems not correct...more like 6,500 years old..thats why !

<deleted>

Edited December 11, 20169 yr by Rob13

9 minutes ago, tandor said:

 

 

 

why !.....650 years ago seems not correct...more like 6,500 years old..thats why !

 

650 is correct. Aztecs were the last people to rule Mexico when Cortez invaded in the 1500's.

8 minutes ago, Rob13 said:

 

650 is correct. Aztecs were the last people to rule Mexico when Cortez invaded in the 1500's.

 

 

...i stand corrected.