- Title: MEXICO: Robot probes ancient Sun pyramid in search of tomb
- Date: 12th November 2010
- Summary: TEOTIHUACAN, MEXICO (NOVEMBER 10, 2010) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF SUN PYRAMID PEOPLE ON TOP OF SUN PYRAMID / MORE OF PYRAMID ROBOT INSIDE TUNNEL TUNNEL SEEN BY ROBOT'S CAMERA ARCHEOLOGIST SERGIO GOMEZ AND ENGINEER HUGO ARMANDO GUERRA PRESENTING ROBOT ROBOT ON TABLE ENGINEER HUGO ARMANDO GUERRA TALKING ABOUT ROBOT / DEMONSTRATING HOW IT OPERATES GOMEZ OPERATING ROBOT GUERRA DURING PRESENTATION MORE OF ROBOT INSIDE TUNNEL IMAGES SEEN BY ROBOT'S CAMERA WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF ROBOT ON GROUND (4 SHOTS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARCHEOLOGIST, SERGIO GOMEZ, SAYING: "All robots are designed to meet a requirement by a human being for a dangerous task or repetitive actions. In this case, the robot was used because a person could not go in (to tomb) because we did not know what conditions it was in. A person would not take risks because we did not know what conditions it was in (tomb). This places Teotihuacan and archeology in the country, maybe not in the forefront, but on the international stage because another type of technology is being used to explore archeological sites."
- Embargoed: 27th November 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Science / Technology
- Reuters ID: LVA928Q1QBPOQJ1JMTNFIJA5WGVH
- Story Text: Every year, the mysterious Sun and Moon pyramids of Teotihuacan attract thousands od visitors from around the world. The structures are central to an ancient city which is believed to have been established around 200 BCE. The origins of the city and its pyraminds have never been determined but now, for the first time, technology is reaching inside the pyramids in search of clues.
A remote-controlled, four wheeled, one-foot-six (50 cm) long, nearly one foot (20 cm) high robot, is being used by researchers from Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) to investigate the pyramids' narrow tunnels. Called "Tlaloque 1" after the Aztec rain god, the robot is fitted with cameras to send live video signals back to its controllers.
The mission's immediate goal is to find a tomb where the city's former rulers are thought to be interred. The remains of the rulers from Teotihuacan have yet to be found after decades of searching.
The entrance to the tunnel, which is 15 metres deep, was discovered in August and is found close to the temple of the Feathered Serpent, in the archeological complex, close to Mexico City.
"All robots are designed to meet a requirement by a human being for a dangerous task or repetitive actions. In this case, the robot was used because a person could not go in (to tomb) because we did not know what conditions it was in. A person would not take risks because we did not know what conditions it was in (tomb). This places Teotihuacan and archeology in the country, maybe not in the forefront, but on the international stage because another type of technology is being used to explore archeological sites," said archeologist Sergio Gomez, who directs the investigations.
This is the first time in Mexican archeological history a robot has been used in an investigation. Investigators in Egypt used a similar apparatus to explore a tomb 10 years ago, the INAH said.
Researchers showed the first images taken by the camera of a safe structure after exploring the first 35 metres of a tunnel, which is between 100 and 120 metres long. At the end of the underground passage, researchers hope to find a 10 metre by 10 metre (33 feet) chamber where the tombs of the rulers are thought to be.
The existence of the tunnel had been known for years, which was discovered using scanners, but investigators began to search for its entrance last year, until it was safe to explore.
"We'll continue our investigation, exploration. We'll try to remove a layer of sediments, sand that is preventing our access. We calculate that in approximately two weeks, we'll be able to enter. But that will depend on work conditions and difficulties, etc. But what we saw is that the tunnel is quite stable, well up to the point where the robot has explored," said engineer Hugo Armando Guerra.
Declared a UN World Heritage site, Teotihuacan reached its peak between 250 and 500 AC when it had a population close to 150,000 residents to become the sixth largest city in the world after Constantinople and Alexandria.
The city has an area of two square kilometres, although scientists believe at it's height, the metropolis reached 20 square kilometers. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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