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New Finds at Templo Mayor Complete Six-Box Offering Attributed to Moctezuma I

Researchers present evidence that the deposits formed one simultaneous consecration from the temple’s fourth construction stage.

Overview

  • INAH documented three additional tepetlacalli—offerings 186, 187 and 189—completing a cluster of six ritual deposits at the Huei Teocalli.
  • The new stone boxes, roughly 50 cm square, contained 43 Mezcala-style figurines (15, 15 and 13), raising the known total across the set to about 83.
  • More than 4,000 shell elements were recovered, dominated by Atlantic species Nerita scabricosta and Hexaplex brassica, indicating long-distance transport.
  • Specialists date the group to c. 1440–1469 under Moctezuma Ilhuicamina and interpret it as the consecration of war booty from Tlaxco and Tlaxmalac to deities including Tláloc.
  • All materials are in active laboratory consolidation with controlled conditions and pigment stabilization while detailed analyses continue.