Prehispanic sculpture found in Pyramid

58 inches tall and weighs about 190 kilos

MEXICO. - Mexican archaeologists found at the top of the "Pyramid of the Sun" in Teotihuacan several sculptures that 1,500 years ago decorated the temple that crowned this structure, reported the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

The pieces were found inside a mass grave probably dating from the late fifth century or at the beginning of the sixth century in our era, said archaeologist Alejandro Sarabia, who along with Saburo Sugiyama have been working on the Pyramid of the Sun Project since 2005.

The grave was 60 meters high from the ground and found in it was the sculpture of Huehueteotl, the god of fire, plus two greenstones and another fragment of 80 kilos. Also in the grave were other green stone objects, beads, plaques and a few shells.

The sculpture which is 58 inches tall and weighs about 190 kilos, is the largest god sculpture found so far in Teotihuacan, located about 50 kilometers from Mexico City. The sculpture was found 75% complete and was carved from gray andesite.

This finding, along with the discovery in 1906 of several sculptural symbols of the sacred ceremony of the New Fire on the terrace of the platform, could indicate that the Pyramid of the Sun was the scene of cults dedicated to the fire.

The INAH reported that the pieces were transported to the offices of the research project, where a system of ropes and anchors were used in various points of the Pyramid of the Sun to get it out.

This archaeological site is one of the most visited places Mexico.

Editorial@sandiegored.com

Omar.Martinez@sandiegored.com

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