Archaeology of Teotihuacan, Mexico
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The Pyramid of the Moon is a solid building, which was originally constructed using stones, adobe bricks and earth as fill. The excavation of the tunnels in the Pyramid of the Moon was carried out by local experts using steel bars, picks and rods especially designed for removing the fill from the pyramid. For safety purposes, a wooden roof was constructed approximately every 1-1/2 to 3 feet as the excavation progressed, in order to retain the fill. The location of the wooden posts that were placed in the tunnels as support structures, as well as all the other relevant architectural information was mapped using a total station (lower left). The data was then used to develop three-dimensional maps such as those shown on the following pages. |
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Periodically the ancient Teotihuacanos remodeled the pyramid. With each remodeling the existing building was covered by a new one, so that each previous building actually served as fill for the new construction. In the process of excavating the Pyramid of the Moon some of the walls of the previous buildings were discovered. The information obtained made it possible to reconstruct the shape and dimensions of the structures. |
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The route of the tunnels is carefully laid out with the help of a three-dimensional recording instrument and computer program. Using this information it is possible to reconstruct the buildings that have been found during each field season and plan the excavation for the following field season. An example of the diagram of one branch of the tunnel in the upper part of the pyramid that was excavated during 2000 is shown in the photograph at the lower left. |
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