- Title: Archaeologists find ancient Aztec palace ruins in downtown Mexico City
- Date: 14th July 2020
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (JULY 14, 2020) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NACIONAL MONTE DE PIEDAD BUILDING WHERE ARCHAEOLOGISTS REPORTEDLY FOUND AZTEC PALACE RUINS SIGN THAT READS (Spanish) "EDRO ROMERO DE TERREROS, DISTINGUISHED FOUNDER" SECURITY STAFF AT THE ENTRANCE OF NACIONAL MONTE DE PIEDAD BUILDING SIGN THAT READS (Spanish) "HERE LAY (AZTEC EMPEROR) MOCTEZUMA'S OLD HOUSES" EXTERIOR OF NACIONAL MONTE DE PIEDAD BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARCHAEOLOGIST, RAUL BARRERA, SAYING: "The house where Hernan Cortes resided was built with basalt blocks and tezontle blocks. These materials are the product of the destruction of the Axayacatl palace. We know that the palace of Axayacatl was there (at excavated site) because of various documents, such as the descriptions given by the Spanish conquerors."
- 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: LVA001CMS9M4N
- 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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