Earthquake reveals giant Aztec snakehead beneath Mexico City university

By Owen Jarus published 5 days ago
Researchers are conserving a rare snakehead from the Aztecs that still retains its painted colors from hundreds of years ago.



We see the painted head of a snake sculpture against a black background.
A magnitude-7.6 earthquake revealed a giant Aztec snake sculpture in Mexico City. (Image credit: LANCIC;UNAM)


An earthquake last year revealed a big surprise beneath a law school in modern-day Mexico City: a giant, colorful snakehead from the Aztec Empire.

The snakehead dates back more than 500 years, to when the Aztecs controlled the area, which at the time was part of the flourishing capital of Tenochtitlan. The sculpture was discovered after a magnitude-7.6 earthquake struck Mexico City on Sept. 19, 2022; the seismic event caused damage and changes in the topography, revealing the snakehead beneath a building that was part of a law school at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) said in a Spanish-language statement.

The Aztecs built temples and pyramids and worshipped a number of deities, including Quetzalcoatl, who was often depicted as a snake. However, it's unclear if this sculpture depicts him, the archaeologists said.

The sculpted snake is 5.9 feet (1.8 meters) long, 2.8 feet (0.85 m) wide and 3.3 feet (1 m) high, and it weighs about 1.3 tons (1.2 metric tons), the INAH said. Several colors — including red, blue, black and white — are preserved on the sculpture.



The more than 500-year-old snake has painted scales. (Image credit: LANCIC;UNAM

More:
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/earthquake-reveals-giant-aztec-snakehead-beneath-mexico-city-university








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