Mysterious sealed chambers found beneath an ancient Aztec temple

At the heart of modern Mexico City is a major Aztec temple known as Templo Mayor. This temple was once considered a sacred center of the capital of a pre-Columbian empire, Tenochtitlán.

Artist's illustration of a sacred center of the capital of a pre-Columbian empire, Tenochtitlán. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1Tnb4Ry)

But who would have thought in 2013 has been found rostrum ceremony and two sealed rooms under the temple. Archaeologists believe they may have an opportunity to uncover the mystery that has puzzled them for centuries to uncover the tomb of some great Aztec kings.

Exploration of the hidden tunnel that leads to the mysterious chambers that had been done by researchers. They find a hallway that leads to a circular structure that resembles Cuauhxicalco, a ritual room which according to ancient reports, is used to burn the bodies of the Aztec ruler. This room is accompanied by two sealed doors that allegedly serves to keep the ruler's funeral chamber.

A photo dated October 3, 2006 shows a major Aztec temple known as Templo Mayor in Mexico City. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1OSwuXB)

In announcing the discovery, researcher Leonardo Lopez Lujan explained that Cuauhxicalco is a burial character structure. "So we can speculate that behind this wall there may be two small rooms containing the remains of burning the bodies of some of the Aztec leaders," he said.

According to Lujan, judging by the age of the temple, the researchers believe that each tomb found here could be owned by some early Aztec rulers, including Montezuma I, who ruled in the period 1440-1469.

However, archaeologists asked people to not get too excited, because the excavation of this space will not begin until next year. That's mean, until today its content is still the speculation of many people.

Some observers commented that this is not the first time that expectations regarding the possibility of the discovery of the remains of the Aztec king soar, but so far it all ended in disappointment. As a result, the tradition of burial carried out after the death of the ruler of the Aztec empire remain unknown.

Evolved from the mid-14th century until 1521, the imperial growing up in most of the northern Mesoamerica, the capital of Tenochtitlán, which was founded on an island in a lake which has now dried. That location, now known as Mexico City.

Because the center is a sacred area surrounded by walls, with two sturdy towering pyramid that serves as a shrine to the sun-god Huitzilopochtli and the rain god Tlaloc. Historical records and archaeological excavations have provided details on a number of activities that take place here.

According to some reports, more than 20,000 people were slaughtered here every year, with their hearts removed from the chest and while still beating, held high as an offering to the gods.

However, in the absence of the discovery of the body of the late king, historians still do not know how the Aztec kings respected when they died, be burned, or buried no one know. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | IFL SCIENCE]

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