A colossal and eerie treasure from the ancient Aztec civilization has emerged after an earthquake damaged a building at a university in Mexico City.
According to Live Science, the treasure is the head of a giant stone serpent, excavated and studied by scientists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico (INAH).
The university where the earthquake occurred is located in Mexico City, an area that has revealed many other remnants of the renowned Aztec civilization in Central America, famous for its unique architecture and sculptures.
The serpent head weighs 1.3 tons crafted by the Aztecs – (Photo: INAH).
In this area, the Aztecs built temples and pyramids to honor their gods, including Quetzalcoatl, often depicted as a serpent. However, archaeologists have not yet confirmed whether this giant serpent head represents the god Quetzalcoatl.
Ancient pigments are well-preserved on the Aztec treasure – (Photo: INAH).
According to INAH, the intricately carved serpent head measures 1.8 meters long, 0.85 meters wide, and 1 meter high, with a weight of approximately 1.3 tons and painted in multiple colors.
Some ancient pigments, including red, green, black, and white, have remained intact after being buried for 500 years. It is estimated that up to 80% of the surface has preserved its color.
To preserve this rare treasure, INAH archaeologists had to use a crane to lift the stone block directly from the ground and construct a special chamber to gradually reduce humidity, allowing the artifact to dry without damaging its colors.
Archaeologist Erika Robles Cortés from INAH stated that the preservation of colors is particularly significant in this discovery, as it may reveal how ancient people stabilized colors for use in large-scale artworks that needed to withstand the elements.
This Aztec treasure has allowed archaeologists to reimagine the art of the pre-Hispanic era from a new perspective.
