Archaeology of Mexico City: new studies in the study of the history of the ancient Aztecs

The article presents an overview of archaeological discoveries in Mexico City over the past few years. The research, which is carried out primarily by Mexican scientists, is based on both traditional methods of archaeology and the capabilities of modern science, in particular, electroresistive tomography and geophysics. The article uses primary data and their inclusion in the history of archaeological research in Mexico City is still ahead. Despite the preliminary nature of the assessments of these archaeological data, they allow not only to clarify the established ideas based on the many decades of work of archaeologists, but also to take them into account when further studying the past of the Aztecs and their capital Mexico City-Tenochtitlan. The paper presents the materials of recent excavations in the area of the Main Temple (Mexico City proper) and Greater Mexico City (the ancient territory around Lake Texcoco). In the center of Mexico City, archaeologists have discovered the remains of the room in which the Spaniards were, who first found themselves in the Aztec capital, fragments of pre-Hispanic stone basreliefs. It is also a find of the Great (Great) Tsompantli (traditional construction of skulls). The excavations of the Great Cuaushikalco as part of the ritual and sacred space and the ancient objects associated with it can be considered noteworthy. In the Greater Mexico City area, there are ongoing studies of an artificial tunnel, a cave (a symbol of the entrance to the world of the dead) inside the famous pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan. Here, on the territory of the ancient valley of Mexico, the study of the Preclassic period of its history continues (archaeological surveys in Zacatenco and Tlalpan with the oldest burials of unusual cone-shaped graves and intentional spiral arrangement of bodies). The post-classical period (the Aztec era) was enriched by excavations of salt mining sites, etc. The article notes that the new archaeological data generally confirm the well-known features of the Aztec society, without justifying, but also without belittling its own importance in world history and culture.

Keywords

Archeology of Mexico City, Great Temple, Great Cuauhxicalco

Received

14.05.2021

Publication date

24.01.2022

Number of characters

31313

Cite

GOST	Baglay V. Archaeology of Mexico City: new studies in the study of the history of the ancient Aztecs // Latin America – 2022. – Issue 1 C. 75-90 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://latamerica-journal.ru/S0044748X0018054-8-1 (circulation date: 15.02.2025). DOI: 10.31857/S0044748X0018054-8
MLA	Baglay, Valentina "Archaeology of Mexico City: new studies in the study of the history of the ancient Aztecs." Latin America 1 (2022):75-90. DOI: 10.31857/S0044748X0018054-8
APA	Baglay V. (2022). Archaeology of Mexico City: new studies in the study of the history of the ancient Aztecs. Latin America (1 ), pp.75-90 DOI: 10.31857/S0044748X0018054-8

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 0, views: 561

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Ofrendas y tumbas, algunos hallazgos arqueológicos en 2012. Boletín. 28 de Diciembre de 2012 / Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia. Available at: http://www.inah.gob.mx/es/boletines/1953-ofrendas-y-tumbas-hallazgos-en-2012); (accessed 10.04.2021).

2. Arqueología Mexicana. Indice general. Volumes I – XXVI, 1993-2018, r. 24-34. Available at: https://arqueologiamexicana.mx/sites/default/files/banco_imagenes/indice_general_2018.pdf (accessed 12.04.2021).

3. Atwood, Roger. Under Mexico City. Beneath the capital's busy streets, archaeologists are discovering the buried world of the Aztecs Archaeology, Archaeological Institute of America July/August 2014. Available at: https://www.archaeology.org/issues/138-1407/features/2173-mexico-city-aztec-buried-world/ (accessed 11.06.2020).

4. Ancient Aztec palace ruins discovered in Mexico City. Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/aztec-palaca-mexico-city/a-54166113/ (accessed 02.04.2021).

5. Mineo L. Unearthing the secrets of the Aztecs. The Harvard gazette, April 9, 2018. Available at: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/04/unearthing-the-secrets-of-the-aztecs/ (accessed 02.05.2021).

6. El Monte de Piedad guardaba «un secreto»: restos del Palacio de Axayácatl, lugar donde murió Moctezuma. Available at: https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/culturas/hallan-restos-del-palacio-de-axayacatl-bajo-el-monte-de-piedad-lugar-en-donde-murio-moctezuma/ (accessed 18.04.2021).

7. Surgen vestigios de casa que habitaron Axayacátl y Cortés, El universal. Available at: https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/cultura/patrimonio/500-anos-de-la-noche-triste-surgen-vestigios-de-la-casa-que-habitaron-axayacatl-y (accessed 12.04.2021).

8. Con tigo en la distancia. Available at: https://contigoenladistancia.cultura.gob.mx (accessed 02.04.2021).

9. Pruitt, Sarah .The Most Amazing Historical Discoveries of 2018. 7. A deadly earthquake in Mexico led to the discovery of an ancient Aztec temple. Available at: https://www.history.com/news/discoveries-2018-archaeology-science-finds (accessed 07.04.2021).

10. Baglaj V.E. Atsteki: istoriya, ehkonomika, sotsial'no-politicheskij stroj. M., «Vostochnaya literatura» RAN, 1998, 432 s.

11. Remains of the Palace of Axayácatl and a house built by order of Cortés are discovered in Monte de Piedad building. Available at:https://www.inah.gob.mx/boletines/9259-remains-of-the-palace-of-axayacatl-and-a-house-built-by-order-of-cortes-are-discovered-in-monte-de-piedad-building (accessed 04.04.2021).

12. Archéologie: découverte au Mexique d’un rare basrelief aztèque représentant un aigle- Available at: ttps://www.connaissancedesarts.com/monuments-patrimoine/archeologie-decouverte-au-mexique-dun-rare-bas-relief-azteque-representant-un-aigle-11152687/ (accessed 12.04.2021).

13. Rojas y Gutiérrez de Gandarilla, J. L. Los azteca ¿Cultura arqueológica o cultura con arqueología? Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Revista Española de Antropología Americana, 24, s. 75-92, Edit, Madrid, 1994. Available at: https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/REAA/article/view/REAA9494110075A (accessed 02.04.2021).

14. Mexico's 'tower of skulls' yields more ancient remains RTL Radio i TV Lyuksemburga. Available at: https: today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/1629110.html (accessed 02.04.2021).

15. Woodward A. Photos show a tower of human skulls found buried beneath Mexico City. Available at: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/photos-show-tower-human-skulls-123700815.html (accessed 10.04.2021).

16. Descubrimientos arqueológicos. UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Friday, 30 March 2012 Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/es/noticias/863 (accessed 10.05.2020).

17. Martínez Meza, Roberto. Cuauhxicalco de Templo Mayor, pasado prehispánico que sale a la luz.Boletín UNAM-DGCS-709 Ciudad Universitaria. 12:00 hrs. 1 de diciembre de 2011. Available at: (accessed 12.09.2020).

18. Pirámide de la Luna pudo ser el inicio de Teotihuacán: INAH. Available at: https://www.infobae.com/america/mexico/2020/07/28/piramide-de-la-luna-pudo-ser-el-inicio-de-teotihuacan-inah/ (accessed 09.08.2021).

19. Pirámide de la Luna podría ser el punto de partida del diseño urbano de Teotihuacan. Available at:https://www.inah.gob.mx/boletines/9291-piramide-de-la-luna-podria-ser-el-punto-de-partida-del-diseno-urbano-de-teotihuacan (accessed 04.04.2021).

20. Nueva teoría: la Pirámide de la Luna podría ser el origen de Teotihuacán. Actualizado al 30/07/2020. Available at:https://www.clarin.com/internacional/nueva-teoria-piramide-luna-podria-origen-teotihuacan_0_u7xJX1u6F.html (accessed 07.02.2021).

21. Mariló, T. A. Recuperan restos de hace al menos 2.500 años correspondientes a más de 140 antiguos habitantes de Zacatenco, al norte de Ciudad de México Ancient Origins, 30 Octubre, 2016. Available at: https://www.ancient-origins.es/noticias-historia-arqueologia/recuperan-restos-hace-al-menos-2500-%C3%B1os-correspondientes-m%C3%A1s-140-antiguos-habitantes-zacatenco-al-003849/ (accessed 09.5.2020).

22. Encuentran entierro prehispánico múltiple en Tlalpan - López-Dóriga Digital, enero 29, 2018. Available at:https://lopezdoriga.com/nacional/encuentran-entierro-prehispanico-multiple-en-tlalpan/ (accessed 02.08.2020).

23. Cowie A. Descubierta antigua espiral de la muerte en México Ancient-origins, 4 Febrero, 2018. Available at: https://www.ancient-origins.es/noticias-historia-arqueologia/descubierta-antigua-espiral-la-muerte-m%C3%A9xico-004682 (accessed 02.08.2020).

24. Descubren en Tlalpan un entierro múltiple de los primeros aldeanos de la Cuenca de México, Gobierno de México. México, Lunes, 29 de Enero de 2018. Available at: https://www.inah.gob.mx/boletines/6865-descubren-en-tlalpan-un-entierromultiple-de-los-prime-ros-aldeanos-de-la-cuenca-de-mexico/ (accessed 03.08.2020).

25. La muerte entrelazada: hallan espiral de osamentas en Tlalpan/ Cultura, Martes 30 de enero de 2018 r.4. Available at: https://www.jornada.com.mx/2018/01/30/cultura/a04n1cul (accessed 02.09.2020).

26. Zorich Z. Circle of Life. Circular burial, Tlalpan, Mexico. Available at: https://www.archaeology.org/issues/298-1805/trenches/6522-trenches-mexico-tlalpan-circular-burial/ (accessed 04.05.2021).

27. Cortes A. Investigadoras del INAH descubren asombroso entierro múltiple entrelazado. Available at: https://www.sopitas.com/noticias/inah-tlalpan-entierro/ (accessed 03.05.2021).

28. Elola E. «Aztecas» en Stuttgart, una nueva visión europea desde el Museo Linden. Available at: https://www.dw.com/es/aztecas-en-stuttgart-una-nueva-visi%C3%B3n-europea-desde-el-museo-linden/a-50826369 (accessed 14.04.2021).