Found: An Aztec Temple Hiding Under the Streets of Mexico City

In 1985, the wing of a hotel in central Mexico City, just blocks from the central Zócalo plaza, was damaged during an earthquake. Under the floor, there was a surprise—ruins that dated back to the 15th century.

Now, after seven years of excavations, archaeological investigators are revealing what they found: a semi-circular temple dedicated to the Aztec god of the wind, Ehécatl-Quetzalcoatl, and a ritual ball court where the European colonial explorer Hernan Cortes may have watched Aztecs play ball, Reuters reports.

In addition, the archaeologists discovered 32 sets of human neck bones that they believe belonged to victims of human sacrifice.

While these excavations have been going on, the hotel has had to delay reopening its wing. Now, the temple and the stairs of the ball court will be open the public, below the hotel. “Some of their guests still likely will have to sleep above an Aztec burial ground,” the Associated Press notes. For some people, that could be an attraction, rather than a bug!