Archaeologists in Mexico have discovered one of the largest and most impressive collections of Aztec artifacts to date in the northeast of mexico City's central plaza. This incredible treasure trove of Aztec artifacts includes more than 2,500 pieces of woodwork of various shapes, sizes and uses, as well as many other artifacts left by the inhabitants of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire.
A treasure trove of Aztec sacrifices
The wooden objects retrieved from the vicinity of Templo Mayo were presented as gifts to the gods by the people who lived in the Aztec capital during the construction of religious buildings began in 1325 AD and were destroyed by Spanish invaders in 1521. The latest excavations, carried out by archaeologists affiliated with INAH, have uncovered a large number of high-value personal items made of wood, including earrings, masks, ornaments, headdresses, statues, busts, scepters, kettles, ear cups, darts and throwers, as well as stylized art carvings brought by priests, citizens of Tenochtitlan and pilgrims visiting the Holy Land from elsewhere.
Two pieces of thousands of Aztec wooden artifacts were recently found near the main ruins of an ancient temple in the heart of Mexico City
During these excavations, samples of ancient plants and animals, copper and gold objects, ceramic pieces and flint tools were also found
Uncover the priceless Aztec artifacts of Templo Mayor
In 1978, under the auspices of INAH's Templo Mayor project, Tempo Mayor began excavation work. Templo Mayor is a pyramid structure surrounded by other temples, buildings, platforms and public facilities, and the entire site is considered the most important religious shrine in the entire Aztec Empire.
Over the years, during various excavations carried out there, wooden objects were only occasionally found. Wood is an organic material, so it often breaks down when buried in the soil for too long. Even when wooden artifacts are found in the Templo Mayor complex, they often decay and shatter into pieces shortly after being removed from the ground.
And to protect themselves, when substances such as lactitol and trehalose are present, they will shut down all biological activity.
After this treatment, Templo Mayor's wooden items are rinsed off and placed in a heated chamber that produces temperatures of up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius). The wood slowly dries in the chamber, after which it does not have any potentially destructive organisms.
This process proves to be the ideal solution. The wooden objects found at Templo Mayor are now safe and will be preserved indefinitely, giving Aztec scholars all the time needed to study and analyze this amazing ritual and Aztec artifact.
Among the visually stunning and well-preserved Aztec artifacts, a small number, especially wooden artifacts, were recently discovered in the Templo Mayor complex in the heart of Mexico City
A unique collection from a unique culture
Templo Mayor is dedicated to two Aztec gods: Huitzilopochtli, the god of war, and Taloc, the god of rain and Taloc, the god of agriculture. More than 2,500 wooden objects were offered to these gods as sacrifices or gifts by priests and the most devout pious
The wooden objects in this sprawling collection are mainly made of different kinds of pine trees. Some are carved from other kinds of softer woods, including cedar, cypress, ahuehuete, aile and tepozán.
Excavations at the Templo Mayor site will continue for some time to come as archaeologists seek more knowledge about the Aztec civilization and society in one of its holiest sites.