Pyramid Of The Moon And Avenue Of The Dead Could Be Foundation For Urban Design Of Teotihuacan

Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History) scientists say that the Pyramid of the Moon, which is the second main structure of the Teotihuacan Archaeological Zone and the end of the Calzada de Los Muertos ('Roadway of the Dead'), could be the foundation for the urban design of this famous Mesoamerican city. 

Pyramid of the Moon. Foto: Mauricio Marat. INAH.

The existence of a natural cave, located 15 meters beneath the Pyramid of the Moon, has been now confirmed by INAH and UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico) experts.

See also:

Pyramid Of The Moon At Teotihuacán – Underground Tunnel And Chamber Found

Ancient Secret Tunnel Discovered Beneath The Pyramid Of The Moon In Mexico’s Teotihuacan

Teotihuacán: Enigmatic Birthplace Of The Gods And Its Obscure History

The fact that this cavity was not excavated by the pre-Hispanic inhabitants, as in the case of the tunnels located under the Pyramid of the Sun and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, a fresh perspective on the origin of the planning of the metropolis, which lived its apogee towards 300-650 AD, in the Classic period, say the doctors Denisse L. Argote Espino and Verónica Ortega Cabrera.

In an article recently published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, the experts point out that three decades ago it was thought that the cave under the Pyramid of the Sun was of natural origin, and this could have influenced the first settlers to select the place where the religious nucleus would be built. However, the most recent studies have confirmed that it is of artificial origin.

Pyramid of the Moon - Teotihuacan - Mexico. Source

The research says that Building 1 (100 BC and 50 AD), -  the first of several construction stages of the Pyramid of the Moon - represents the oldest known Teotihuacan monument to date, prior to the urban plan that is currently observed.

According to INAH researchers “this building “had a modest size and was related to the myth of the sacred mountain, symbolized by the nearby Cerro Gordo. The first three construction stages were made towards the front of the structure and below the ‘Attached Platform’; Subsequently, the pyramid was expanded to cover the aforementioned cave, so another question is whether the position of this cavity influenced the successive expansions of the Pyramid of the Moon ".

Using the combination of non-invasive geophysical techniques, the team of experts confirmed already in mid-2017, the existence of a cave or cavern system approximately 15 meters below ground level in the pyramid.

More images in the gallery of INAH - here

Since electrical methods may have difficulty accurately distinguishing between a highly compacted rock and a hole (both can show similar high resistivity values), in addition to ERT and as a means of validation, an Environmental Noise Tomography (ANT) was applied. ). The areas investigated with these methods were the Pyramid of the Moon and its north and east flanks.

After obtaining the first data inversions, the possibility of entry tunnels arose on the eastern and northern flanks of the pyramid, so it was decided to make six additional profiles in the second dimension (2D), through a design of electrode configuration, reports INAH.

The overall results showed a body that could be associated with a cave or cave system, of probable natural origin, below the pyramid.

The duct, 20 meters wide and approximately 15 m deep, is located towards the center of the current Pyramid of the Moon and faces Cerro Gordo, which seems to confirm its symbolic relationship. The cavity seems to be more centered towards the construction phases - fourth to seventh - of the pyramid, architectural extensions made between the years 150 and 450 AD

The investigations conducted in the north and east sections support the hypothesis of artificial access to the east of the building. The tunnel or underground conduit is approximately 11 meters deep and has a winding pattern of at least 40 meters long.

The experts comment that the access tunnels of the caves below the Pyramid of the Sun and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent keep an east-west sense, according to the Mesoamerican worldview; orientation also in accordance with the result of the model of the Pyramid of the Moon, where access to the east is observed.

Written by Conny Waters - AncientPages.com Staff Writer