The recently discovered tunnel beneath the Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacán may be a recreation of the its people's mythological underworld. Although there are more entries in the site, guides prefer the tour to the Pyramid of the Moon, because from its platform you can best imagine the grandeur of the old city. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. It measures the shapes and distances under the ground.The team of archaeologists from Mexico was studying the site to learn how to better protect and preserve the famous central square when they stumbled upon the tunnel.What Was the Use of the Tunnel?The Pyramid of the Moon was likely used for human sacrifice and other religious ceremonies. secret tunnel under a famous and massive pyramid in the ancient city of Teotihuacán, northeast of Mexico City Specialists believe that there are offerings in this secret passage. 1145 17th Street NW people and culture native to Mexico and Central America. Human remains were found inside of the pyramid tombs. The discovery under Teotihuacan’s Pyramid of the Moon help’s explain the city’s urban design. Archaeologists have discovered a tunnel and chamber hidden beneath the 2,000-year-old Pyramid of the Moon. Microsoft HoloLens Mixed Reality Device – Augmented Reality Headset, The Phone – History and Evolution from 1876 to present day, Robotic Contact Lenses Enables Users To Zoom In On Objects by Blinking. They were using a special technology that allows them to look below Earth's surface. The underground passage is similar to other tunnels that have been discovered. Archaeologists think the tunnel under the Pyramid of the Moon in Mexico’s Teotihuacán may represent the underworld as part of an ancient belief system. Arcturians Alien Race – Who and What Are They? Nikola Tesla Genius – His Legend, and His Inventions, Star Trek Legacy – Back To The Future Innovations. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. While it is dangerous for archaeologists to tunnel into the pyramid, the structure is resistant to looters." Arcturians Aliens – Watchers and Earth Protectors? Nazi Secret Space Program | ✠ Die Glocke ✠ Nazi Bell, Solar Warden | The Secret Space Program – Black Budget. Thus, the tunnel would actually symbolize the road to the “Underworld”, which is why it was filled with offerings – plants and food – for the gods. The Pyramid of the Moon is a structure of seven pyramids built on top of each other. It was one of the largest in the Americas during the ancient days. The Pyramid of the Moon is the second-largest building in the ancient city. The first human establishment in the area dates back to around 600 BC when farmers began tilling the Teotihuacan Valley, which at that time had a total population of about 6,000 inhabitants. Margot Willis, National Geographic Society. A vast network of underground chambers and water tunnels have been discovered beneath several of the world's most well-known pyramids, including the Giza Plateau. The Pyramid of the Moon is the second largest pyramid in Mexico after the Pyramid of the Sun and is believed to have existed prior to 200 AD. The Moon pyramid is the second-largest pyramid at the site, located at the northern end of the Avenue of the Dead and in front of the Plaza of the Moon. For nearly 2,000 years, the tunnel has remained hidden beneath it. According to a 2017 report in the International Business Times , the tunnel, which is about 33 feet (10 meters) deep, “Extends from a central square known as the Plaza de la Luna … This image was taken from the top of the pyramid. ARE WE ALONE? The 151-foot high Pyramid of the Moon is not one pyramid; it is composed of seven pyramids built one on top of the other, the first of which dates to the earliest days of the city—around 100 BCE —before the Pyramid of the Sun and before the residential structures that still survive. Privacy Notice |  Hidden 10 meters (33 feet) beneath the ground, the tunnel extends from the Pyramid of the Moon, the second largest structure at the site, to the central square. This giant hill constantly frames the pyramid as you approach along the 2km section of Avenue of the Dead from the southern entrance. Gina Borgia, National Geographic Society In August 2010 Gómez Chávez, director of Tlalocan Project: Underground Road announced the advancement of investigation conducted by INAH in the tunnel closed nearly … They believe it was used as a ritual space for funerals. Learn more about the rich cultures and lives of these early civilizations. © 1996 - 2021 National Geographic Society. National Geographic Headquarters The second largest structure in the city, the Pyramid of the Moon rises to 140 feet (43 metres) and measures 426 by 511 feet (130 by 156 metres) at its base. (200-750) ancient civilization in what is now central Mexico. Archaeologists recently found a tunnel under the Temple of the Plumed Serpent too.Scanning Below Earth's SurfaceNo one has been able to go inside the tunnel yet. This 2,000-year-old group was around before Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas. The pyramid was dedicated to the Goddess of the Moon, considered the supreme goddess, the one who created the world, a symbol of life and fertility. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. Submit your email address to download the eBook, Teotihuacan – Tunnel Discovered Near The Pyramid Of The Moon. Archaeologists have discovered a secret tunnel under a famous and massive pyramid in the ancient city of Teotihuacán, northeast of Mexico City. She or he will best know the preferred format. So much of its story has yet to be discovered. Descending deep down under the Great Pyramid, we discovered amazing finds, including an unopened sarcophagus buried in the water. This city is famous for its enormous stone pyramids. The Pyramid of the Moon is the only structure at Teotihuacán that directly faces the Calzada de los Muertos, or Avenue of the Dead. This second pyramid is thought to have been built on top of seven layers of structures, from AD 100 to AD 450 . When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. They suggest that these features may have been used in rituals and a way for Teotihuacan’s ancient inhabitants to imitate the underworld. In the country of Mexico, is the ancient city of Teotihuacán. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. The top three positions in the top pyramids of the world are occupied, in decreasing order, by the Keops Pyramid in Egypt, by Cholula, Mexico, and by the Teotihuacan Sun Pyramid. ARAL SEA Damned Lake to Die and Rise from his own Ashes? IN TIME – Time Travel Possibilities eBook, The Atrahasis, Akkadian/Babylonian epic of the Great Flood, Enuma Elish – Creation of the World and of Mankind, Ancient Arrow Project: Visitors from the Sky – Anasazi – Chaco Canyon, 10 of Most Influential Ancient Women in History, Particle Beam Weapon – Nikola Tesla`s Teleforce, Dynamic Theory of Gravity by Nikola Tesla. The long tunnel was first discovered in June 2017 running beneath the Pyramid of the Moon which is the second-largest structure in the ancient city (the largest is the Pyramid of the Sun). The tunnel was found under the Pyramid of the Moon and the Plaza de la Luna, the adjacent square. What If The Moon is Not What You Think It Is . Nikola Tesla: 3, 6, 9 the KEY to the UNIVERSE? How often do you look up into the night sky and wonder just how many stars, planets, galaxies, and more are out there? If this last name tells you a few things, the time is right to find out that it refers to one of the most important archaeological sites in the world and the most visited in Mexico. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. The tunnel was discovered using electrical resistivity tomography—a geophysical technique for imaging sub-surface structures from electrical resistivity measurements made at … It is buried 10 meters (33 feet) deep, nearly the length of a school bus. From there, a secret passageway extends from the plaza to the Pyramid of the Moon. The discovery was made by a team of archaeologists while they were studying the city central square. This technology is called electrical resistivity tomography. If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. The tunnel under The Pyramid Of The Moon would have played a symbolic role for the ancient inhabitants of the area, believes Veronica Ortega, the archaeologist who coordinates the research. The tunnel was found under the Pyramid of the Moon, the second-largest structure in the ancient city (the largest is the Pyramid of the Sun), according to the International Business Times. Built on elevated ground, the Pyramid of the Moon is the highest point in the ancient complex. The newly tunnel runs from the center of the Plaza de la Luna to the Pyramid of the Moon, in the Teotihuacan. Photo: Chichen Itza Pyramid during Autum Equinox in Mexico. Cultural traits that define the region include the domestication of maize, beans, avocado, and vanilla, and a common architectural style. The Pyramid of the Moon is the only structure at Teotihuacán that directly faces the Calzada de los Muertos, or Avenue of the Dead. The Bosnian pyramid complex is a pseudoarchaeological notion to explain the formation of a cluster of natural hills in the area of Visoko in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its main stairway faces the Avenue of the Dead. A secret tunnel may have been built under the Pyramid of the Moon, which is the second-largest pyramid in San Juan Teotihuacan in Mexico, after Pyramid of the Sun, archaeologists at the Teotihuacan ruins site said. complex way of life that developed as humans began to develop urban settlements. The tunnels underneath the Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacán are a more recent discovery and have yet to be explored. For thousands of years, this area was populated by groups such as the Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, Toltec, and Aztec peoples. The tunnel may represent the underworld of the belief system of the Teotihuacán people. Since 2005, Semir Osmanagić, also known as Sam Osmanagić, a Bosnian American businessman now based in Houston, Texas, has claimed that these hills are the largest human-made ancient pyramids on … The cavity discovered under the Pyramid of the Moon is 15 meters in diameter and includes a tunnel located 8 meters Sustainability Policy |  Archaeologists have discovered a secret tunnel beneath one of the most famous pyramids.Hidden TunnelThis pyramid is called the Pyramid of the Moon. The Pyramid of the Moon is the second-largest building in the ancient city.Sources claim the largest city structure is the Pyramid of the Sun. Thus, the tunnel would actually symbolize the road to the “Underworld”, which is why it was filled with offerings – plants and food – for the gods. Hidden for ages, the underground tunnel, according to archaeologists, could represent the underworld as a component of an ancient belief system The tunnel may represent the underworld of the belief system of the Teotihuacán people. It has a height of 46 meters and a base of 168 square meters. Aliens on 1,000 Nearby Exoplanets Could See Us, New Study Suggests, Massive Asteroid Apophis might threaten Earth in 2068 | The chances of an impact still seem very low. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. The archaeologists who discovered it believe that the tunnel looks similar to other Teotihuacán monuments. Sugiyama and The archaeologists who discovered it believe that the tunnel looks similar to other Teotihuacán monuments. “The function of the tunnel may have been to reproduce the underworld, a world … This tunnel links the pyramid of the central square of the complex, the Plaza de la Luna, where religious rituals and human sacrifices took place, involving about 100,000 people, writes Daily Mail. The Pyramid of the Moon is the second largest structure to be seen in Teotihuacán. What is it about deep space that so ignites our collective imagination? Similar tunnels have also been discovered in other areas of the Teotihuacan archaeological site. techniques for making detailed three-dimensional images of a plane section of a solid object, such as a cross-section of a body. Denisse Argote Espino, who heads a team of experts at the Directorate of Archaeological Studies of the National Institute […] The tunnel under The Pyramid Of The Moon would have played a symbolic role for the ancient inhabitants of the area, believes Veronica Ortega, the archaeologist who coordinates the research. Ark of Archangel Gabriel – More Powerful Than The Ark of Covenant? Thus, archaeologists have noticed the presence of an underground tunnel dug 10 meters (33 feet) deep. Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Society, Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. Archaeologists plan to further explore the tunnel to determine its purpose and whether or not it contains more artifacts.Teotihuacán was a major city for many years and had a complicated history. A team of researchers from the National Institute … Fox News Fox Business Fox News Go Fox News Radio Fox They are even thought to have come before the Aztec people, who later lived in the area.In the middle of the city is a central square called Plaza de la Luna, or "plaza of the moon." TR-3B Black Triangle – Code Name: ASTRA – Magnetic Field Disruptor Plane. Researchers have uncovered a mysterious chamber and tunnel under Mexico’s Pyramid of the Moon. Yet, despite its huge dimensions, standing 43m tall and measuring a massive 130m x 156m at its base, the Pyramid of the Moon is still dwarfed by the incredible Cerro Gordo, or “Fat Hill”. It is believed to have been enlarged seven times since it was first built. An underground tunnel that archaeologists believe was meant to imitate the underworld has been found under a pyramid at Teotihuacan in Mexico. By the end of 2009 archaeologists of the INAH located the entrance to the tunnel that leads to galleries under the pyramid, where the remains of rulers of the ancient city might have been deposited. Teotihuacán is an ancient site where the circumstances of its destruction are not entirely clear. science of the origin, development, and culture of human beings. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Archaeological evidence shows that there have been human sacrifices since the year 200 BC. The historic region of Mesoamerica comprises the modern day countries of northern Costa Rica,  Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, and central to southern Mexico. Terms of Service |  Get the eBook and f, TR-3B Secret Plane | Top-Secret US Air Force Black Triangle. The discovery was made possible by a CT scan made in the pyramid area. The tombs of the pyramid contain human and animal remains and various funerary objects. Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Teotihuacan in Mexico say they have uncovered evidence of what seems to be a network of tunnels located beneath the Pyramid of the Moon. Black Hole – How Do Scientist Calculate the Mass of a Black Hole? Scroll down for video Archaeologists have discovered a new tunnel and a cavity hidden below an ancient pyramid in Mexico that is believed to have been dedicated to ‘underworld’ Toltec rituals It is unclear what the tunnel may have been used for. All rights reserved. You cannot download interactives. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, maintaining health or even recovering. "The Pyramid of the Moon," says Cowgill, "is difficult to dig because of the loose rock used in its construction. Ancient Egyptians during the third and fourth dynasties perfected the construction of pyramids as burial chambers for their kings. Photograph by Photography by MACDUFF EVERTON, National Geographic Creative Archaeologists have discovered a secret tunnel under a famous and massive pyramid in the ancient city of Teotihuacán, northeast of Mexico City. The pre-Sun Pyramid phase is the time period we knew least about in the development of the ceremonial center, and only recently, through extensive tunnel and pit excavations at the Moon Pyramid and the FSP, are we beginning From more than 40 meters high, it is seen that the impressive Death Avenue leaves in front of the pyramid and extends straight to Templo del Quetzalcóatl Temple, leaving the Pyramid of the Sun on the left. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Pyramid of the Moon structure at Teotihuacán Funeral rituals could have been carried out in the chamber at the Teotihuacán archaeological site Experts have discovered a tunnel leading to a chamber that was possibly used for funeral rituals beneath the Pyramid of the Moon at the Teotihuacán archeological site. Archaeologists have confirmed the existence of a secret tunnel and chamber under the Pyramid of the Moon in the ancient city of Teotihuacan in Mexico. Other temples and edifices accompany the 2.5 km high road, lined up by the stars, and seems to lose its end in the mountains. AncientPages.com - Scientists have discovered an ancient secret tunnel beneath the Pyramid of the Moon in Mexico’s Teotihuacan. Anthropology, Archaeology, Religion, Social Studies, Ancient Civilizations. The Pyramid of the Moon was built in several successive stages, being completed in 450 BC. The ancient structure, which is situated in the Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan in Mexico, was used for human sacrifice as well as to conduct ceremonies in honor of the Great Goddess of Teotihuacan. Washington, DC 20036, National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. At that time, it was home to at least 125,000 people. Tunguska 1908 Explosion – A Nikola Tesla Experiment? Sources claim the largest city structure is the Pyramid of the Sun. Code of Ethics.