NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — An earthquake in Mexico City last year led to the discovery of an ancient artifact hiding under a law school building. The discovery, which was made after the seismic event on September 19, 2022, amazed researchers and archaeologists: a huge sculpture of a snakehead was discovered in the bowels of this Mexican city.
The magnitude 7.6 earthquake itself caused severe damage and loss of life. However, it also led to changes in the topography of some areas, including the site of the law school of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. This change “threw” a huge sculpture of a serpent to the surface.
The colossal snake sculpture measures 1.8 meters long and 0.8 meters wide. It was discovered by employees of the Mexican government’s Ministry of Culture. It was associated with a number of architectural elements indicating its ancient origins.
According to experts from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the ancient snake sculpture dates back more than 500 years. Its creation dates back to the period when the Aztecs lived in this territory, which was then part of the prosperous capital of Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs themselves built impressive temples and pyramids, worshiping numerous gods, including the god Quetzalcoatl, who was often depicted as a serpent. The question of whether this sculpture depicts this snake god remains unanswered.
However, what makes this find especially amazing is the preservation of its original vibrant colors. The mixture of mud and water that covered the sculpture for nearly half a century helped preserve the vibrant whites, blacks, blues, reds and yellows. Thanks to the efforts of a team of archaeologists and the use of a special humidification chamber, the sculpture has retained its colors.
Professor Francis Berdan from California State University emphasized that not only the size and artistic execution of the sculpture are impressive, but also the fact that the paints on it have been preserved. This allows us to see a naturalistic approach to Aztec art and gives an idea of how they saw the world.
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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