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Introduction
This exhibit presents the offerings found beneath two colonial houses known as the "Ajaracas" and the "Campanas". The name "Ajaracas" refers to the decoration of the facade of the house in the form of ornamental garlands. The name of the second house, "Campanas" means bells, for during the colonial period it was in this house that the bells for the Metropolitan Cathedral were cast. Excavations made under the auspices of PAU have also taken place in many other sites next to the present archaeological zone. Of particular importance have been those carried out under the Cathedral, the National Palace, and the House of the Marques del Apartado, to name just a few. All of these excavations have yielded a wealth of information which has contributed to our understanding of the make up of the Mexica ceremonial center as well as many other aspects of this society and its interaction with neighboring groups.
The exhibit opens on August 10. The seven Mexica offerings dedicated to Tlaloc will be open to the public at the Museo del Templo Mayor.
Museo del Templo
Mayor Translated from Spanish by Annis Graetz. |
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The
temporary exhibit "Offerings to the Rain God Tlaloc" is a showcase
of the results of the archaeological investigations carried out by the
Program of Urban Archaeology (PAU).
The
excavations of the year 2000 brought to light a series of exceptional
objects, exceptional not least of all for their unique state of preservation.
After having been buried for more than five hundred years in a city in
constant motion from innumerable earthquakes of varying magnitude, drilling,
and building, a series of offerings made to the rain god Tlaloc were uncovered.
These offerings are, without a doubt, among the most impressive finds
to date in the urban archaeology of Mexico City. The offerings contain
objects, which stand out because of the great variety of natural resources
used, their elaborate decoration (workmanship), their great symbolic content,
and above all their remarkable state of conservation. All of this combined
makes these offerings one for the most impressive finds within the context
of urban archaeology.
