Digging Crew during Infrastructure Development Uncovers 1000-Year-Old Pyramid in Mexico
Digging Crew during Infrastructure Development Uncovers 1000-Year-Old Pyramid in Mexico
occassionally, the most remarkable discoveries occur by chance. This was the case in June, when construction jobs in Mexico exposed an archaeological site believed to be over a thousand years old.
Team of archaeologists in Hidalgo, Mexico, have delved into the base of a pyramid found earlier this year during infrastructure advancements on the region's federal highway 105. An emergency archaeological rescue project, as reported in a December 5 communication from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), revealed that the site was part of an ancient pre-Hispanic settlement, potentially providing insights into the ancient human inhabitation of Hidalgo’s mountainous Sierra Alta region.
"The site and monument were thoroughly documented using drones for the creation of digital photogrammetric models," a representative commented in the communication.
The investigation of the site, led by Mexico’s Ministry of Culture via the INAH in Hidalgo, also unveiled five "areas" and at least ten archaeological mounds. Besides these structures, archaeologists collected 155 samples, such as ceramics, shells, stone tools, lime floors, charcoal, earth, and carbonized wood, which they will subject to further laboratory examinations in the upcoming months.
The INAH archaeologists dated the complex to between the Epiclassic period (650 to 950 CE) and Late Postclassic period (1350 to 1519 CE), preceding the arrival of Europeans in Mexico. They suggested its link to the minor Metztitlan kingdom of indigenous people, also known as the Metzca, which remained independent–even from the more powerful Aztec Empire–until the arrival of the Spanish at the beginning of the 16th century. These people possessed a "multi-ethnic imprint" that was still evident when priests from the Order of Saint Augustine began building churches and convents, according to the INAH.
Archaeologists also identified the site as part of an ancient pre-Hispanic settlement called San Miguel, due to its modern proximity to the town of San Miguel Metzquititlán. San Miguel Metzquititlán is located within Barranca de Metztitlán, now a nature reserve within the Sierra Alta region where some evidence, as per the INAH, shows human activity dating back 14,000 years ago.
Upon "extensive study," the INAH archaeologists reburied the archaeological complex–a preservation method often used when resources for proper heritage site management are lacking. Before its complete reburial, the INAH noted that specialists safeguarded the structures with geotextile, a permeable fabric incorporated with other materials like rock or soil, to protect archaeological sites, including various landmarks. As a final protective measure, construction workers now have built a rock wall to shield the reburied site from nearby road building activities.
Although it's unfortunate to witness history disappear below the ground once more, it's preferable to store crucial information securely underground until it can be managed effectively. The future awaits what insights further lab analyses will reveal from the samples preserved above ground.
The archaeological findings suggest that the ancient people of Metztitlan, known as the Metzca, had a significant impact on Hidalgo's history, leveraging advanced technology and scientific knowledge during their rule, as evidenced by their multi-ethnic imprint and well-preserved artifacts.
As we delve deeper into analyzing the collected samples, future generations will undoubtedly benefit from the insights gained about this ancient civilization and their relationship with technology and science, potentially shaping our understanding of pre-Columbian Mexico.