Archaeology of Teotihuacan, Mexico

Pre-Feathered Serpent Pyramid Constructions at the Feathered Serpent Pyramid

In the 1960s, the Teotihuacan Mapping Project collected ceramic materials diagnostic of early phases at Teotihuacan (Patlachique and Tzacualli) from the surface of the Ciudadela, suggesting that this part of the city was occupied before the construction of the Ciudadela (Cowgill 1983). The excavations in 1980s provided more concrete evidence of earlier constructions around the Feathered Serpent Pyramid .

Only small portions of these earlier structures were exposed. One structure, discovered on the south side of the pyramid in 1983, consists of floor and wall fragments faced with typical Teotihuacan concrete, later cut through to prepare the pit for Grave 190 (Sugiyama 1989a).


Sub-structure near G13ahpr2.jpgThe other remains of structures predating the Feathered Serpent Pyramid were found during the 1989 excavations within the core of the pyramid itself. Two floors were observed on the profile of the looters' tunnel just north of Grave 12 (photo left), while a small portion of two floors and associated walls faced with Teotihuacan concrete (photo right) were uncovered on the west edge of the pit for Grave 13.

ahpr4.gifahpr3.jpgThere is also data to suggest the existence of structures predating, but in the vicinity of, the Feathered Serpent Pyramid . The fact that several worked stone blocks were found in the fill of the pyramid supports the possibility that earlier masonry constructions existed nearby. Another block, sculptured with an unidentified geometric motif on one side (Photo right) and a "petal" motif associated with the Feathered Serpent on the other(Photo left), was discovered by the PAT80-82. This suggests the possibility of an earlier structure exhibiting a stone facade decorated with ritual iconographic elements.

These fragmented data indicate that there were at least two Teotihuacan-type constructions in this locality that exhibited the same orientation as the main axes of the city, but which predated the Feathered Serpent Pyramid. The substructures have not been closely dated because of the limited amount of excavation that has been directed at them. These constructions were almost entirely destroyed when the location was leveled for the new monument that we know as the Feathered Serpent Pyramid.
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Last Update: 8/20/2001
Saburo Sugiyama: Arizona State University, Dept. of Anthropology, Tempe, AZ 85287
©Copyright 1996 Project Temple of Quetzalcoatl, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Mexico/ ASU
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