Archaeologist Leonardo López Luján details Mexica sculpture discoveries

Archaeologist Leonardo Náuhmitl López Luján, head of the Templo Mayor Project, recently delivered a lecture regarding the history and discovery of significant Mexica sculptures, including Coyolxauhqui and Tlaltecuhtli, in Mexico City.

López Luján detailed the complexities of excavating within the historic center, noting that work occurs across three superimposed urban layers: the modern capital, the viceregal city, and the ancient island of Tenochtitlan. He recounted the 1978 discovery of the Coyolxauhqui monolith, noting that an attempt to clean the sculpture for a presidential visit inadvertently stripped away much of its original pigment.