A group of Archaeologists has discovered an ancient stone shrine that is believed to be designed by the Aztec civilization. The Aztec stone shrine has a pictorial representation of the vast universe on it, which is believed to be carved by the ancient Aztec Civilization. According to the archeologists, through the stone shrine, the ancient Mexican people showcased their version of the map of the Universe. The stone shrine was discovered at the Nahualac site near the Mexico City.
While exploring the new site, the archeologists found the Aztec stone shrine in the middle of the pond situated at the bottom of a dormant Mexican volcano named Iztacchihuatl. The experts from the National Institute of Anthropology and History ( INAH) believe that the stone shrine depicting the map of the Universe is a tetzacualco. The tetzacualco are nothing but the astronomical observatories that were built on high mountain slopes. In this case, the stone shrine was found at a height of almost 13,000 feet below the Iztaccihuatl volcano.
According to the INAH experts, the ancient stone structure was designed in such a way that it gave the impression of a map carving floating on the surface of the water rather than lying on the pond bed. The archaeologists felt that the stone carving showcased how the monster Cipactli (a creature that resembled a crocodile with other physical features similar to fish and frogs), split the heaven and Earth and brought life into being. This Cipactli belief was one of the traditional myths of the Aztec people.
In a statement, INAH informed, “The existence of a tetzacualco in the middle of a natural pond and the optical effect that occurs when the water mirrors, from which it seems that the structure emanates, suggests that the place is the representation of a primeval time and space, a miniature model of the universe.”
Throwing some more light about the latest eye-catching discovery, Iris Hernandez, an archaeologist from INAH’s Subaquatic Archeology Subdirectorate said that the visual effects, along with the characteristics of the elements that make up the site and the connection they have with each other made them believe that the Nahualac could represent a microcosm that evokes the primitive waters and the beginning of the mythical time-space.
Along with the stone shrine, the archaeologists discovered organic remains, lithic materials, lapidaries and ceramic fragments associated with the Aztec god of rain, lightning, and thunder, Tlaloc, at the Nahualac site. The archaeologists informed that the ceramic materials that they discovered dated back to between 750 A.D. and 1150 A.D. and covered an area of almost 300 meters by 100 meters.