Mexico earthquake reveals lost ancient temple inside pyramid
Archaeologists found an incense burner and ceramic crockery inside the ancient temple
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Your support makes all the difference.Archaeologists scanning a Mexican pyramid which was damaged by an earthquake have uncovered an ancient temple inside.
A 7.1-magnitude earthquake which hit Mexico last September caused considerable damage to the country’s historical sites – including the Teopanzolco pyramid in the southern state of Morelos.
But the earthquake has also revealed a temple nestled inside the large pyramid – which is thought to date back to 1150 and to belong to the Tlahuica culture, one of the Aztec peoples living in Mexico.
Among what remains of the temple – which measured 6m by 4m (20ft by 13ft) – archaeologists found an incense burner and ceramic crockery.
The discovery was made when scientists from Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) used radar to check for structural damage to the pyramid.
Archaeologist Barbara Koniecza said the pyramid suffered considerable rearrangement of the core of its structure following the earthquake in September.
The main structures at the archaeological site of Teopanzolco are thought to date back to the 13th Century, which means the newly discovered temple would have predated them.
Ms Koniecza said it was not unusual for the Tlahuica to build on top of older structures.
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