Ancient Gods: Archeologists Discover Wind God Temple In Mexico

Mexico counts many ancient Aztec ruins and Mayan temples throughout the country, offering historic destinations that draw tourists from all over the globe to glimpse crumbling Mayan pyramids and sacred ruins. Now, Archeologists have discovered a large temple beneath a supermarket located in Mexico City.

The temple, said to date back over 650 years ago, was apparently built as a sacred place to worship a wind god, The Guardian reported Wednesday. The site was discovered in the capital city’s neighborhood, which is also home to a large ceremonial grounds. Tlatelolco is also home to the Temple of Santiago Tlatelolco, which was built at a site of a military attack in the 1500s.

Following a two-year excavation of the recently discovered site, which originally had a 20th-century supermarket, a platform around 4 feet tall and 36 feet in diameter was discovered, according to the Guardian piece.

Once archeologists were able to step inside the buried structure, they discovered a temple that is believed to have been built as a place to worship deities and Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl, the god of wind. Offerings and gifts were also discovered, which included the bones of birds, small ceramics built in the likeness of monkeys and a human infant. The infant was said to have suffered “no signs of trauma.”

Archeologists had only discovered the site two years ago following the demolition of a supermarket that had stood on the site for decades. An excavation only began when shards of pottery were discovered, according to national archaeology coordinator for Mexico’s National Anthropology and History Institute Pedro Francisco Sanchez Nava.

Mexico has a rich history when it comes to ancient Mayan and Aztec ruins. Other famous temples include Chichen Itza, Mayan ruins located on the Yucatan Peninsula, the Xpuhil Ruins in the area of Becan and Teotihuacan in Mexico city, among others.

Plans for the newly uncovered wind god temple will include turning the area into a public viewing site. Visitors will be able to view the temple through a window that will be installed.