Discovering all about the latest Aztec findings in Mexico City and what archeologists make of them.
Aztecs settled in what’s now known as Mexico City, after migrating from Aztlan, their homeland during the 13th Century. Although we call them ‘Aztecs’, the Aztecs called themselves ‘Mexica’. They founded Tenochtitlan in Anáhuac, situated in the region of Mesoamerica. Archaeologists date this period to 1325 C.E.
Fast-forward to today and there’s been a recent discovery of items found in Templo Mayor, which was the Aztec’s main temple in Tenochtitlan. But there’s more: it’s believed that the remains of the Aztec Emperor, Ahuirzotl, may have also been inadvertently found.
What Treasure was found?
Archaeologists believe their discoveries were laid by priests near Templo Mayor over 520 years ago. This was done as offerings to Emperor Ahuirzotl, who ruled from 1486 to 1502, with the BBC providing details on the ceremonies that often included these offerings. All were found sealed in stone boxes, their findings included a jaguar dressed like a warrior and sacrificial eagles. There were also hundreds of starfish and coral branches only found in the Pacific Ocean and off of the Gulf Coast of Mexico in them, too.
It was noticed that there was a bulge in the middle of one of the boxes. Archaeologists believe it could be the remains of Emperor Ahuirzotl and that the contents in each of the stone boxes were laid as offerings to them.
The Templo Mayor was built six times to mark the reign of different Aztec Emperors during the Aztec Empire and was eventually destroyed after the Spanish conquered Mexico in 1521. It’s believed that the cremated remains of three Aztec kings, who were brothers, that reigned from 1469 to 1502, as covered on Britannica, were buried near the Temple’s circular ritual platform.
Along with what was considered luxurious offerings of the time, the kings were also buried with the hearts of sacrificed slaves nearby. To date, archaeologists have found over 200 hundred of these boxes but no royal tomb, meaning this discovery could potentially be a major find if the emperor’s remains are indeed found.
What’s our Fascination with the Aztecs?
There are several moments in ancient and medieval history that are popular today, such as Rome, Greece, and the Renaissance. But the Aztec Empire in Mexico is also one of the most popular ancient civilizations to date. The empire was so vast that it reached across the Valley of Mexico and even shared similar characteristics to the Maya Empire.
Our passion for the Aztecs can be found today, with Aztec prints often found in items of clothing, art and other objects. Books such as Aztec by Gary Jennings and Demon of the Air by Simon Levack have a strong Aztec theme running throughout them to captivate readers interested in this era. This has extended to strategy games such as Medieval II: Total War which featured the Aztec Empire in an expansion pack, and even bingo titles such as Azteca: Bonus Lines, a game that features online at Buzz Bingo. The interest in this empire is only likely to continue to grow as more details emerge about their ceremonies and other parts of life, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the empire feature in more parts of popular culture over the coming years.
The more we develop technology and techniques to delve into the past, the more we learn and discover about it. Just when we think we know everything we could possibly learn, we’re hit with a surprise discovery, just like these fantastic treasures. They not only give us more of an insight into Aztec life, but it’s also primary evidence of their existence. It just goes to show that we’re just visitors on this amazing planet and should preserve it for future generations.