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Inside the Sun Pyramid at Teotihuacan, Mexico: 2008—2011 Excavations and Preliminary Results

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2017

Nawa Sugiyama ,
Saburo Sugiyama  and
Sarabia G. Alejandro
Nawa Sugiyama
Affiliation:
Anthropology Department, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138 (nsugiyam@fas.harvard.edu)
Saburo Sugiyama
Affiliation:
School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AR 85287, and Graduate School of International Cultural Studies, Aichi Prefectural University, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1198, Japan (sugiyama@asu.edu)
Sarabia G. Alejandro
Affiliation:
National Institute of Anthropology and History, Teotihuacan Archaeological Park, Autopista Ecatepec Pirámides km22+600, Puerta 1, Teotihuacan, México, C.P. 55800 (sarabiaalejandro@hotmail.com)
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Abstract

After more than a century of explorations at the Sun Pyramid in Teotihuacan, many uncertainties about the function, meaning, chronology, and use of the monument remain unresolved. Here we present preliminary results from excavations and mapping conducted by the Sun Pyramid Project to address some of these issues. We focus particularly on describing the architectural features excavated in the interior of the pyramid as well as the subterranean tunnel. This evidence is used to argue that the subterranean structure was artificially constructed for ritual activities, including the placement of royal burials and/or offerings in its interior. We define three stages in the construction sequence of the Sun Pyramid: (1) a Pre-Sun Pyramid phase, (2) the establishment of the main corpus of the monument, and, finally, (3) the adjoining of the adosada platform. In each phase, we discuss the presence of burials, offerings, or other features uncovered. Furthermore, we present the results of new ceramic and radiocarbon dates that transform our understanding about the construction of the ceremonial center, where the Sun Pyramid and the subterranean tunnel are dated to a later phase than previously thought, from A.D. 170—310 and A.D. 140—240, respectively.

Después de más de un siglo de exploraciones en la Pirámide del Sol en Teotihuacan, muchas incógnitas acerca de la función, el simbolismo, la cronología y el uso del monumento permanecen sin resolverse. Aquí presentamos los resultados preliminares de las excavaciones y el mapeo realizados por el Proyecto Pirámide del Sol para desentrañar algunas de estas cuestiones. Nos concentramos particularmente en la descripción de algunos rasgos arquitectónicos excavados en el interior de la pirámide, así como en la estructura subterránea, conocida como la “cueva sagrada,” que corre por debajo de dicha pirámide. Utilizamos esta evidencia para argumentar que la estructura subterránea fue construida artificialmente para actividades rituales, incluyendo la colocación de tumbas reales y/u ofrendas en su interior. Definimos tres etapas en la secuencia constructiva de la Pirámide del Sol incluyendo una fase pre-Pirámide del Sol, el establecimiento del núcleo principal del monumento, y finalmente la adición de la plataforma adosada. En cada fase se discute la presencia de entierros, ofrendas u otros rasgos descubiertos. Por otra parte, presentamos los resultados del nuevo fechamiento cerámico y de radiocarbono que transforman nuestra comprensión acerca de la construcción del centro ceremonial. Fechamos la pirámide y el túnel subterráneo para una fase más tardía de lo que se pensaba, 170—310 d.C. y 140—240 d.C. respectivamente.

Type
Articles
Information
Latin American Antiquity , Volume 24 , Issue 4 , December 2013 , pp. 403 - 432
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 2013

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