Complex canal system — up to 800 years old — found under Mexico City. Take a look below
It may have been used for navigation, irrigation or drainage, officials said. Archaeologists have discovered a complex stone structures at Tlatelolco, an archaeological site under Mexico City, which dates to between 1200 and 1521 and is estimated to be at least 500 years old. The site, once a pre-Hispanic city-state, was found through boreholes drilled into the ground and revealed layers of artifacts from various societies. In the uppermost layers, archaeologists found pipes and factory remains, traces of modern occupation. The canal system was found below, with waterways varying in size and size, and a pier and staircases found. These structures may have been used by Tlate lolco's indigenous inhabitants for navigation, irrigation or drainage.
Published : a month ago by Brendan Rascius in World
The stone structures were discovered at Tlatelolco, an archaeological site located in the bustling heart of Mexico City, according to a March 25 news release from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
Dozens of boreholes were drilled into the ground at the site, once a pre-Hispanic city-state, revealing layers of artifacts from various societies.
In the uppermost layers, archaeologists found pipes and factory remains — traces of modern occupation.
Far below that, they located the canal system, which dates to between 1200 and 1521, making it at least 500 years old.
Excavations revealed the waterways varied greatly in size, with widths as narrow as three feet and as wide as 26 feet. In addition, a pier and staircases were found, which descended to where the water level would have been.
These structures may have been used by Tlatelolco’s indigenous inhabitants for navigation, irrigation or drainage, officials said.
In the years following the Spanish conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century, Tlatelolco’s indigenous inhabitants carried on living normally in contrast to neighboring Tenochtitlan.
However, following devastating floods and the spread of disease, the native population began to decline in the 17th and 18th centuries, officials said.
Google Translate was used to translate a news release from INAH.