After five years of excavation, archaeologists have discovered more than 600 skulls in an Aztec ruin. The remains probably belonged to enemy warriors.
Archaeologists in Mexico discovered a total of more than 600 skulls after five years of excavation in an Aztec ruin. During the recent uncovering in the newly discovered eastern part of the so-called Huei Tzompantli in Mexico City, 119 skulls were unearthed, including some of women and children, such as the National Institute for Anthropologie and history (INAH) announced on Friday.
Archaeologists believe that many of the remains belonged to enemy warriors and that the tower of skulls was built as a warning. Some could therefore also have been sacrificed to gods.
Tower probably dates from the 15th century
According to the researchers, the tower with a diameter of 4.7 meters was probably built towards the end of the 15th century. It is located on the grounds of the Templo Mayor, one of the main temples of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán in the historic district of Mexico City.
According to the authorities, the Huei Tzompantli is one of the most important archaeological finds in Mexico for years. The Aztec capital Tenochtitlán was stormed and destroyed by Spanish conquerors in 1521. They built today’s Mexico City on the ruins.
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