Teotihuacan's Emblematic Monument, The Sun Pyramid, Still an Enigma for Archaeologists

Art Daily ^ | Friday, October 8, 2010 | unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

How long did it take to build the Sun Pyramid?

• It was in 1986 when the first calculations on this regard were estimated.
• It is considered that it was built by 12,000 to 14,000 persons working simultaneously, by specialized groups in each of the tasks such as loaders, water-bearers, stonemasons, quarrymen and builders.
• Working 10 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Adding up 139 years of work conducted in normal conditions.

[SatinDoll]

I believe the Aztecs discovered it already built. They did not construct it — it predates their civilization.

[fieldmarshaldj]

You don’t need enigmas down in Mexico, just sample the water or cuisine and it will clear you out something fierce.

[SunkenCiv]

If I doubt that, I’ll double-check it with Jimmy Carter. ;’)

[married21]

It didn’t look uncivilized. There was a real city, with important buildings, gardens, markets, etc. I read “Conquistador” by Bud Levy, and it was really informative to me about the ways in which the Aztecs had a sophisticated, comfortable life going on when Cortez arrived. Amazing story, too, about how the conquest happened.

[SunkenCiv]

Yup, and the structures were so old that they had no explanation for them, so they attributed them to the gods.

[eleni121]

A colleague archaeologist worked there in the 60s and found some of the burial sites. I remember him telling us that there were very few young kids found...most of the skeletons were of adults and that there was a very high percentage of fetuses found in altars. The speculation was that they were ritually aborted.

Having visited there as well—it is an eerie and sinister place.

[SunkenCiv]

There’s another article I haven’t yet posted, regarding a Maya burial; those damaged by a collapsing roof slab, a couple dozen figurines were found standing in a circle, simulating the long-forgotten funeral ceremony.

[SunkenCiv]

Zero’s idea is to pay people for sitting on their asses, or more accurately, paying them even more than before for sitting on their asses.

[eleni121]

Lots of information here - my friend’s work is referred to several times.

http://books.google.com/books?id=EZFvTrjU9ZMC&pg=PA72&lpg=PA72&dq=vidarte+teotihuacan&source=bl&ots=X2kFpYTMQP&sig=8mppKJFSVjk9H87kFfrCnXiWy1E&hl=en&ei=RZCwTPWKJ4P6lwfG4pHqDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=vidarte%20teotihuacan&f=false

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

The speculation was that they were ritually aborted.

Possible but also likely that they were miscarriages. At that time it was not unusual for a woman to have as many or more miscarriages then live births.