Archaeologists Find a Secret Tunnel Hidden Beneath Mexico's Pyramid of The Moon

[Judi Lynn]

Archaeologists Find a Secret Tunnel Hidden Beneath Mexico's Pyramid of The Moon
This way to the underworld.
DAVID NIELD 8 JUL 2017


It's amazing what the best computer scanning technology can do these days – like revealing a hidden passageway beneath the Pyramid of the Moon near the ancient city of Teotihuacan in Mexico.

The straight tunnel sits about 10 metres (33 feet) underground and is thought to represent a pathway to the underworld, giving us new insight into the culture and rituals of the Teotihuacan people.

Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (NIAH) in Mexico used an imaging technique called electrical resistivity tomography to find the secret tunnel, which can map underground structures (and the gaps inside them) based on how they resist an electrical current.

"The discovery would confirm that the inhabitants of Teotihuacan followed the same pattern in their large-scale temples, and that their function would be to emulate the underworld," one of the archaeologists, Veronica Ortega, told the Associated Press.

More:
http://www.sciencealert.com/archaeologists-find-a-secret-tunnel-hidden-beneath-mexico-s-pyramid-of-the-moon

Anthropology:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/12293227

[Judi Lynn]

1. 'Gateway to hell' revealed under ancient pyramid but do we dare to unseal it?

'Gateway to hell' revealed under ancient pyramid – but do we dare to unseal it?
FOR nearly 2,000 years this pyramid kept its secret, but now archaeologists believe they've found a passage to the underworld inside.

By Michael Havis / Published 10th July 2017




GETTY/WOLFGANG SAUBER
MYSTERIOUS: The Pyramid of the Moon and, inset, the goddess Teotihuacán it was built for


A computer scan of the Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacán, Mexico, revealed it was hiding a secret tunnel 33ft underground.

The structure, the second largest pyramid in the ancient city, was built for the goddess of fertility and creation.

But the tunnel, which remains unopened, reveals the pyramid had a lost link to death and the underworld.




GETTY
ANCIENT: The Pyramid of the Moon dates back to at least 200AD

More:
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/628454/underworld-tunnel-pyramid-moon-mexico-teotihuacan-archaeology





Teotihuacán complex





Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacán

[Docreed2003]

3. Awesome article Judi!! As always...

My horror flick loving self thinks, don't open that "gateway to hell"...my logical self says "Hell yeah open it!!! Let's see what lies beyond the barrier!!!"

[Judi Lynn]

13. Whatever it is is going to be amazing! n/t

[Guilded Lilly]

2. It literally boggles my mind that these magnificent

Structures were actually built!! But think about it...a three stories deep underground tunnel. Cripes.

[Judi Lynn]

14. Doesn't seem at all possible, does it? Good grief?

I've heard the base of the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan is the same as the Great Pyramid in Egypt, and the height is one half as tall.

I think the design of the Pyramid of the Sun is astonishing, beyond belief.

Once people have seen these things, even in photographs in books, in the past, or on tv, computers, movies in the present, how can they ever just forget what a powerful message they send from the remote past?

There's so much we need to know.

[Guilded Lilly]

16. This modern world is so blindly ignorant about genuine wonders of ancient history.

[SonofDonald]

20. Indeed

It makes you wonder how many things are still out there waiting to be found.

Or have been found then dismissed or destroyed over the centuries due to lack of knowledge of what they found.

The pyramids of Egypt were said to have been faced with white limestone covered with hieroglyphics, these were removed and used in building mosques and other buildings by that nations conquerers.

So they still exist, you just can't read them.

[LongTomH]

4. There's got to be an idea for a horror movie in this!!!

Gateway to Hell? SYFY channel won't be able to resist!!

[Beartracks]

33. Sharkway to hell!

[tclambert]

5. I thought the portal to the underworld was at 1 Central Park W. in New York City.

[packman]

6. Al Capone's Long Lost Safe?

[central scrutinizer]

27. Is Geraldo going to open it?

[kimbutgar]

7. I've climbed that temple in Mexico

It is an eerie place. Keep that tunnel sealed.

[sdfernando]

9. I climbed it as well...

Given my fear of heights I'm surprised I actually did it. It was amazing at the tip and I'm glad I did it. I hope I can check out the tunnel someday.

[kimbutgar]

10. I also climbed the one in Uzmal and Chechen itza

At Chechen itza When I came down this little old lady asked me what it was like up there. I tried to describe to her the jungle for miles and then a strip of the Gulf of Mexico. It was also about 10 degrees cooler. I was only about 27 then. I remembered years later with my husband and son. We all climbed it and it's a memory I will never forget.

This year at 60 my husband and I climbed 464 stairs In The Duomo in Florence Italy. It was a long walk up those stairs but the view was specular. Just like the pyramids in Mexico. I am glad I can physically do stuff like that. I remember to this day that little old lady at the bottom of the pyramid asking me what it was like up top.

[Judi Lynn]

12. Uxmal, too? Good grief! It is astonishing to see in photographs!

Absolutely mind-blowing!

That architecture is overwhelming, shocking! It is screaming to be penetrated and understood, revealed. These are secrets the human race needs to illuminate.

Whoever created these structures was NO primitive society.

[kimbutgar]

15. I agree it is astounding

[Guilded Lilly]

17. It certainly humbles us.

[Judi Lynn]

11. Drives one wild realizing it was all overgrown for centuries, doesn't it?

There's still so much out there, hiding under jungle growth, starting to be identified through developing ground penetrating technology, and drones, etc. So much new/old things to come.

You made a fascinating excursion for yourself! Perfect choice.



View from the top of Chechen itza

[lunasun]

30. We found an un groomed temple in the jungle near Coba . It was a fertility temple I assume

The temple was in ruins but there was 2-3 foot stone detailed penises with ball testicles laying around that must have toppled broke off from part of it and the structure itself was covered with overgrown vegetation
Yes of course we took pictures in front of the big phalluses like they were coming out of our pants and then more sitting on them ...still have the pics somewhere
This was yrs ago but there is probably still so much jungle land and this stuff is covered in green growth I don't know if it is not patterned how even flyovers would find it . Locals hunt in those areas so they have to know they are out there but some are probably so overgrown who knows what's under it . As your map shows large patterned areas are more noticeable even overgrown but scattered structures would be hard to track . Many they said made along a road or connection once traveled but long overgrown and disappeared
Locals in the jungle areas just know its a covered raised structure so it's something they have to walk around . I think there is so much out there that could eventually look like groomed areas at Chichen Itzas or Palenque in Guatemala with lots to add about the ancient history of the area

[lunasun]

28. Me too

Last edited Sun Jul 16, 2017, 12:17 AM - Edit history (1)

some Mayan ones too. There is a Mayan one at Uxmal I think that has an inside tunnel they open for awhile a day . Up and inside these slimy walls to the top I went and there is at the top this dog size stone Jaguar with gem eyes on an alter . I bet the tunnel to Hades has something equally as primitive at the end

[Iplayoneontv]

8. Let me salt all my windows and then go ahead

Good Luck!

[SonofDonald]

18. The reason why there are so many pyramids

Years ago I read an article that stated why there are so many pyramids.

Not because they had the same designer or that it was common knowledge that others existed and they were copy's.

But it stated that when you stack stone blocks the only design that is stable is a pyramidal shape, the article had pics of structures that were built in other designs that had failed, during construction or later on.

When you think about it, it makes perfect sense, to build a structure that tall it's the only stable design, look at what they call the "Bent Pyramid" in Egypt, they had to change the design halfway through as they realized it was too steep to continue for it's size.

Just my .2 cents, I think it's really cool they found the tunnel in Mexico, time to take that technology over to Egypt and look at the Giza plateau and King Tuts tomb, where they say another tomb may be attached to it.

Although it would be pretty simple to start digging there to find out if there is without damaging Tuts resting place.

[SonofDonald]

19. Expedition Unknown with Josh Gates

Recently had an episode where he was taken under the pyramid of the Sun? and shown a room/area that was a representation of the underworld, I've seen it twice now.

They found a large rubber ball of the type used in the game known to be played where the losers were supposedly sacrificed, they also found large amounts of mercury said to represent rivers or lakes.

I'm wondering if this is the same tunnel in the story or another one they've found although the above story says it's still sealed up.

Who knows what else is still buried in the forests there?, all sorts of wonders I'd imagine.....

[Judi Lynn]

21. Hoping to catch the film you mention, also. I wouldn't want to miss it if it's available again.

Have heard there is also a pyramid in China said to contain the same arrangement of a large amount of mercury deep under the base, in a design created to resemble a body of water.

Have heard that the ball game featured a ball made from hard rubber, also. Found an article which describes it:

The Ball Game of Mesoamerica

by Mark Cartwright
published on 16 September 2013

The sport known simply as the Ball Game was popular across Mesoamerica and played by all the major civilizations from the Olmecs to the Aztecs. The impressive stone courts became a staple feature of a city’s sacred complex and there were often several playing courts in a single city. More than just a game, though, the event could have a religious significance and featured in episodes of Mesoamerican mythology. The contests even supplied candidates for human sacrifice, for the sport could, quite literally, be a game of life or death.



ORIGINS

The game was invented sometime in the Preclassical Period (2500-100 BCE), probably by the Olmec, and became a common Mesoamerican-wide feature of the urban landscape by the Classical Period (300-900 CE). Eventually, the game was even exported to other cultures in North America and the Caribbean.

. . .



. . .



Ball Court Wall & Goal, Chichen Itza

. . .

THE RULES

The exact rules of the game are not known for certain and in all probability there were variations across the various cultures and different periods. However, the main aim was to get a solid rubber (latex) ball through one of the rings. This was more difficult than it seems as players could not use their hands. One can imagine that good players became highly skilled at directing the ball using their padded elbows, knees, thighs and shoulders. Teams were composed of two or three players and were male-only. There was also an alternative version, less-widespread, where players used sticks to hit the ball.

The ball could be a lethal weapon in itself, as measuring anywhere from 10 to 30 cm in diameter and weighing from 500 g to 3.5 kg, it could easily break bones. Remarkably, seven rubber balls have been preserved in the bogs of El Manatí near the Olmec city of San Lorenzo. These balls range from 8 to 25 cm in diameter and date from between 1600 and 1200 BCE.

More:
http://www.ancient.eu/article/604/

(I just thought of the expression, "kill the umpire," and realized that probably could have happened frequently during this time in history, along with the losing team!)

Once you've been awakened to the world which existed around these architectural wonders, the interest can never diminish, it only grows.

Hoping that new research will bring information much more quickly now, considering the unbelievable contributions being made and discovered constantly through developing technology, and the interest among growing numbers anthropologists and archeologists, etc.

Great comments! Welcome to D.U.

[SonofDonald]

22. I'll look up that episode and....

Post the name here, I can watch all the older episodes on demand through my service.

As for the mercury in the Chinese pyramid that's the first Chinese emporers tomb, Chin I think, the location is in Xian China, the tomb is the one with the thousands? Of clay warriors buried around it.

It's supposed to have representations of rivers and lakes made from mercury, and they've found mercury in test holes drilled into the tomb.

Another way cool piece of history, they say they'll open it when the technology exists to do it right, but if not soon, when I don't know.

I am a devourer of history, an expert on nothing but a fan of everything.

[SonofDonald]

24. It's called...

"Mayan Apocalypse" from March 5th 2015

You can find it on the travel channels streaming service (I think), enjoy!

[Judi Lynn]

26. Excellent. I'm going to write down the name and look for it. Looking forward. Thanks. n/t

[SonofDonald]

34. Correction on expedition unknown

It's the episode. "Lost Mexican City " from this year, it's on right now on the west coast.

It came on and I realized it's this episode not the one I mentioned earlier.

Sorry for the confusion.

Enjoy

[Judi Lynn]

36. Did a search to see if I could stream it on my laptop. Voila, by golly, I can!

I'm hoping this is the same thing. I just located it a moment ago. It's 38 minutes long, which would be an hour show with all the commercials they jam into every program:

Expedition Unknown Season 2 Episode 17 Lost Mexican City
Adrien S. Holmes

Wow! Now we're cooking with gas!

Thank you, SonofDonald.

[Judi Lynn]

37. Tremendous! I saw that program, and it was outstanding.

First time anyone I've seen in a video has had the idea of taking a camera to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun and sharing what it looks like with others.

Absolutely loved that.

Tenochitlan, Chalula, the still-covered vast pyramid. I'm glad they aren't apt to dive into it and rip it all up, but will proceed with great caution if they decide to look more closely later on.

I'm going to see it again to re-imprint the images I don't want to forget.

Thanks for leading us to it!

[SonofDonald]

38. I really like Josh Gates

It's junk food history but it's fun to watch, the camera work is great, Josh had done a lot of diving, climbing and has even jumped out of a plane, pretty edgy for a big dude.

And at the end of every episode he always has his own insights on the subject that aren't usually the same old stale repetition out of a textbook.

He's just plain fun to watch, and there's nothing wrong with having a guilty pleasure is there?.

Enjoy

[Judi Lynn]

25. Yes, that's it. Whan a phenomenal place that must be.

It's so good to know they are going to protect it, make sure nothing is destroyed.

If only other cultures had done that.

Hard to be patient when we see so many amazing breakthroughs coming into view!

[lunasun]

29. There are many pyramid structures in China and also still they search for the fabled 1K ft White

Pyramid somewhere in Xian area supposedly seen by natives and westerners in the past
Fable ?who knows what or where exactly they are referencing or what happened
List here
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_pyramids

[SonofDonald]

31. A pilot during WWII or later?

I think it was an Englishman that flew over it and reported it, maybe around the Burma hump time frame?

I'm just not sure but I have a memory of reading/seeing something like that.

[stopwastingmymoney]

32. Marked to find later, thanks! nt

[SonofDonald]

35. It's episode "Lost Mexican City"

I got it wrong, it's playing tonight on the west coast, it's from this year so it'll be repeated again, and again.......

Enjoy

[SonofDonald]

23. It's not available right now

They used to have the entire season up but now there's only four, rehashes of the series greatest hits.

I'll try to remember the episodes name but I would think it's described on the series Wikipedia page, I'll see if I can dig it up somewhere.

As for the Emperors tomb in China, I had a book that's sold to visitors to the tomb describing all the finds to that date including pictures of items as found and after restoration.

My favorites are the chariots including horses built in bronze, something like over one thousand pieces for each chariot, my memory is that they were not life size but nearly so, amazing works of art from long ago, alas I can't find it, I think my older sister absconded with it and it resides in Denver now, I want it back......

It always blows my mind to see something from antiquity that let's us know artisans and craftsmen had these skills long before we thought they should.