100 years of the discovery of the Great Temple celebrated with an exhibition in Mexico
The exhibition “100 Years of the Great Temple: History of a Discovery” reconstructs, through never before published information, the first investigations begun a century ago by the archaeologist and anthropologist Manuel Gamio at the site of the Templo Mayor (Great Temple) of México-Tenochtitlan. “This exhibition emphasizes his human facet and his passion for archaeology,” said Teresa Franco, the General Director of the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) (The National Institute of Anthropology and History) during the inauguration of the event.
Skull-mask [Credit: Manuel Curiel/INAH]“Some documents that this exhibition contains show proof that between May 6th and 16th of 1914, Gamio identified the first ruins of the main temple of the sacred site of Tenochca. Those findings began a labor that continues on through to today and that comprises a part of the main activities of the works of the INAH.”
Some documents that this exhibition contains show proof that between May 6th and 16th of 1914, archeologist and anthropologist Manuel Gamio identified the first ruins of the main temple of the sacred site of Tenochca [Credit: INAH]Teresa Franco also thanked the sculptor Sergio Peraza Avila for the creation of the bronze bust of the important personage for national culture.
Diorite head of Coyolxauhqui [Credit: Héctor Montaño/ INAH]The archaeologist Eduardo Matos stated that this showing commemorates three fundamental issues: Gramio’s discovery of the first findings of the Templo Mayor 100 years ago; the endurance of the labors at this sacred site through the investigative project that began in 1978 with the discovery of the monolith of Coyolxauhqui; and the 75th anniversary of the INAH which is paying homage to this central luminary of archaeology and anthropology.
Polychrome vessel at the exhibition [Credit: INAH]Carlos Javier Gonzalez, the Director of the Museo del Templo Mayo (MTM) indicated that the exhibition presents some of the archaeological pieces found by Gamio such as “The Procession of the Men”, one of the most important findings, and the diorite head of the Goddess Coyolxauhqui.
Head of the god Xolotl, discovered by Leopoldo Batres in Escalerillas Street [Credit: Manuel Curiel/INAH]Diagrams of the 16th century from the General Archives of the Indies (Seville, Spain) that depict the Central Plaza of Mexico City, and the area that the Templo Mayor was on showing what the colonial city looked like, are also included in the exhibit.
Aspect of the work being done in the 80s with a view of the Templo Mayor archaeological rescue [Credit: INAH]In 1914, during the demolition of a house built on the lot on the corner of Santa Teresa Street (now known as Guatamala) and Siminario (that no longer), pre-Hispanic vestiges such as the head of a snake that was found on the lower part of the basements of the building, and a wall decorated with stone skulls appeared. Gamio was able to confirm that they were the remains of the Temple of Tláloc y Huitzilopochtli and the site was conserved as an archeological zone until years later what a small ethnographic museum was constructed.
