- Title: Archaeologists find ancient Aztec palace ruins in downtown Mexico City
- Date: 14th July 2020
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (JULY 14, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARCHAEOLOGIST, RAUL BARRERA, SAYING: "We have to take many precautionary measures so as to not have problems with sinking ground. We have to take advice from specialists, from engineers to know where we can or cannot dig, so as not to damage the historic building." SIGN THAT READS (Spanish) "HERE WAS AXAYACATL PALACE, WHERE CORTES STAYED ON HIS ARRIVAL IN 1519" VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF NACIONAL MONTE DE PIEDAD BUILDING
- Embargoed: 29th July 2020 00:30
- Keywords: Hernan Cortes Mexico Mexico City Spanish conqueror archaeologists ruins of Aztec emperor's Axayacatl Palace
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Science
- Reuters ID: LVA003CMS9M4N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Mexican archaeologists have unearthed the remains of the former residences of Aztec ruler Axayacatl and Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortes in downtown Mexico City, officials announced on Monday (July 13).
During building renovations in the Nacional Monte de Piedad building, investigators discovered basalt slabs as well as pre-Hispanic ceramics that were reportedly part of the Axayacatl Palace. The Palace was destroyed by Spanish conquerors after the fall of the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan.
According to reports, Cortes resided in the Palace shortly after entering Tenochtitlan. Investigators believe that the floor of Cortes' house was likely made of materials reused from Axayacatl's palace.
Cortes first arrived in Mexico in 1518 on a mission to explore the region's interior for Spanish colonisation. After the fall of Tenochtitlan, the residents of Tenochtitlan were reportedly forced to destroy their temples and palaces. The materials were later used to lay the foundations for modern-day Mexico City.
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