an international team of scientists used modern laser scanning technologies for the study of the pyramid of the moon, located in the Mexican archaeological site of Teotihuacan, one of the largest ancient cities in Mesoamerica. As a result, under this massive structure was discovered a large cave of a natural origin.
the Study is published in the latest issue of the journal of Archaeological Science, and briefly about it tells Ancient Origins. The researchers used two new technologies that allow you to “look” under the surface without the excavation.
as a result, under the pyramid of the moon in Teotihuacan have discovered a large cave. Scientists believe that it is all natural. This discovery sheds new light on the history of this town.
it is Known that the pyramids in it are aligned in accordance with the location of astronomical objects. The famous Road of the dead connected the pyramid of the moon, temple of Quetzalcoatl and the pyramid of the Sun. Moreover, under the latter two objects had previously been found artificially created tunnels.
the ancient inhabitants of Mesoamerica caves were mystified – they were considered passages to the underworld where the dead go. A new study reveals natural voids located at a depth of 15 meters under the pyramid of the moon.
That explains why this place was built Teotihuacan, and not, say, 10 kilometers away, where there were larger sources of water.
Now scientists have suggested that it is a natural cave inspired the ancient inhabitants for the construction of the pyramid of the moon, and then the entire city. Teotihuacan, located 40 kilometers northeast from Mexico city. The exact date of its construction has not been established. It is believed that the first settlement here was founded about the year 600 BC.
However, the first settlers did not build monumental stone objects that appeared much later. For example, the pyramid of the moon were built between 100 and 450 BC and was used mostly for rituals and ceremonies, including sacrifices of humans and animals.
At the initial stage of existence of the population here was about six thousand people, but gradually it rose to 125 thousand. At the time of its prosperity it was not only the largest city in pre-Columbian America, and one of the largest cities in the world.
the Study showed that the underworld of Teotihuacan was also very large. Under it is a whole network of caves and tunnels artificially padded. Because the cave under the pyramid of the moon at the moment is the only one that has a natural origin, scientists have suggested that this pyramid was the starting point for the planning of the ancient metropolis.
in addition, the authors supported the hypothesis put forward earlier that the feasts��s only repeated his form of the surrounding mountains and symbolized the connection between the aboveground water and the underground world.
