Archaeologists in Mexico City working at the Templo Mayor have uncovered an immensely rich altar offering known as Ofrenda 178, containing nearly 20,000 items. This discovery includes the remains of a female jaguar adorned with copper bells. The Templo Mayor Project (PTM) made this announcement after years of exploration since the altar’s discovery in 2018 beneath a circular structure in the complex.
The altar is believed to have been dedicated to Huitzilopotchli, the most significant deity of the Aztecs. Project Director Leonardo López Luján highlighted the diversity of the items found, which feature elements from various regions of Mesoamerica. Notably, the collection includes over 400 coral fronds thought to be sourced from the Pacific Ocean near the Baja California Peninsula and around 200 starfish, primarily chocolate chip stars (Nidorellia armata).
Significant Discoveries
- The jaguar specimen, estimated to be 1.6 meters in length, was likely kept in Moctezuma Xocoyotzin’s vivarium until its sacrifice.
- The jaguar was uniquely positioned on a bed of shells with snails, whose preserved shells suggest they were collected alive.
- Experts have found evidence of lost biodiversity, such as corals and pufferfish species that no longer exist on Mexican coasts.
Ofrenda 178 is placed along the axis mundi of the Aztec capital, symbolizing the central connecting point between the heavens, earth, and the underworld in Aztec cosmology.
Read more about this discovery and its implications on the Mexico News Daily.
- About the Author
- More info
Leave a Reply