Archaeologists in central Mexico have uncovered Toltec reliefs, ancient burials, and the remains of a large building near the ruins of Tula, one of Mexico’s most important pre-Hispanic cities. The discoveries date back nearly a thousand years and show how later communities tried to link themselves to Tula’s powerful past.
Researchers from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History, known as INAH, found the remains of a structure measuring 40 by 80 meters (131 by 262 feet).
The building, called Structure II, was decorated with carvings of chalchihuites, green stone beads that once symbolized power and wealth.
Two stone slabs found at the site appear to have come from Pyramid B, home to the famous stone warrior columns at the Tula archaeological site in Hidalgo state.
Toltec reliefs and human burials uncovered near ancient Mexico City
Mexico’s Culture Secretary, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, said that the find expands knowledge of the country’s past and protects heritage for future generations. She said that the discovery shows how scientific research and rescue archaeology safeguard sites that reveal the depth of the civilizations that shaped Mexico.
INAH archaeologists have worked at the site since May, as part of rescue efforts tied to the construction of a water treatment plant in the 16 de Enero neighborhood in Tula de Allende.
The carvings show the god Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, a form of Quetzalcoatl, and a feline figure that matches decorations on Pyramid B. Lead archaeologist Luis Gamboa Cabezas said that the find points to a case of self-legitimization.
He explained that people living on the outskirts of Tula came to the old palace and took its sacred symbols so they could identify themselves as Toltec, even as the city’s core lost some of its religious importance.
Carvings and burials reveal how communities claimed Toltec identity
The feline carving also solves a decades-old mystery. Archaeologist Jorge Acosta had found similar carvings on the east side of Pyramid B in the mid-20th century, but none on the west side. The newly found slab shows the missing piece, confirming that a procession of animals once wrapped around the entire monument.
The site has also produced human burials, including six children between the ages of one and six, buried together as an offering beneath a house floor.
Researchers also found a copper tool that matches scrape marks on a human jawbone, suggesting it may have been used to remove skin during ritual sacrifice.
Workers are cleaning and preserving the carvings before placing protective coverings over the site. INAH has reached an agreement with Hidalgo’s state water authority to limit future construction in the area.
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