On April 2013, hundreds of enigmatic metallic spheres have been found buried deep beneath an ancient pyramid called the Temple of the Feathered Serpent also known as the Temple of Quetzalcoatl (a six-level pyramid decorated with snake-like creatures) in Mexico City. "They look like yellow spheres, but we do not know their meaning. It's an unprecedented discovery," said Jorge Zavala, an archaeologist at Mexico's National Anthropology and History Institute. The pyramid is one of the most important buildings in the pre-Hispanic city of Teotihuacan, believed to have been established around 100 BC. It had more than 100,000 inhabitants at its peak, but was abandoned for unknown reasons around AD 700.
The excavation focused on a 330ft (100m) tunnel running under the structure, discovered in 2003 when heavy rain uncovered a hole a few feet from the pyramid. Researchers explored the tunnel with a remote-controlled robot called Tlaloc II-TC, equipped with an infrared camera and a laser scanner. A few months ago, the robot found two side chambers at 236ft (72m) and 242ft (74m) from the entrance, both containing the mysterious spheres.
Ranging from 1.5in to 5in (38-127mm), they have a core of clay and are covered with a yellow material called jarosite, formed by the oxidation of pyrite, a metallic ore.
George Cowgill, professor emeritus at Arizona State University, told Discovery News the find was “unique”. He said: “Pyrite was certainly used by the Teotihuacans and other ancient Mesoamerican societies. Originally the spheres would have shown brilliantly. They are indeed unique, but I have no idea what they mean.”
The walls and ceiling on both chambers were covered with a mineral powder composed of magnetite, pyrite and hematite, which provided a special brightness to the place. The archaeologists believe that priests or even rulers went down to the tunnel to perform rituals. Indeed, they found many offerings, including pottery and wooden masks covered with inlaid rock crystal, jade and quartz - all dating from around AD 100.
Sources:
Fortean Times Magazine vol.305 September 2013: "Archaeology - Golden Balls";
The excavation focused on a 330ft (100m) tunnel running under the structure, discovered in 2003 when heavy rain uncovered a hole a few feet from the pyramid. Researchers explored the tunnel with a remote-controlled robot called Tlaloc II-TC, equipped with an infrared camera and a laser scanner. A few months ago, the robot found two side chambers at 236ft (72m) and 242ft (74m) from the entrance, both containing the mysterious spheres.
Ranging from 1.5in to 5in (38-127mm), they have a core of clay and are covered with a yellow material called jarosite, formed by the oxidation of pyrite, a metallic ore.
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| Mysterious Yellow Spheres |
George Cowgill, professor emeritus at Arizona State University, told Discovery News the find was “unique”. He said: “Pyrite was certainly used by the Teotihuacans and other ancient Mesoamerican societies. Originally the spheres would have shown brilliantly. They are indeed unique, but I have no idea what they mean.”
The walls and ceiling on both chambers were covered with a mineral powder composed of magnetite, pyrite and hematite, which provided a special brightness to the place. The archaeologists believe that priests or even rulers went down to the tunnel to perform rituals. Indeed, they found many offerings, including pottery and wooden masks covered with inlaid rock crystal, jade and quartz - all dating from around AD 100.
Sources:
Fortean Times Magazine vol.305 September 2013: "Archaeology - Golden Balls";
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