Featured Image Credit: Ramiro Aguayo / Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History
An ancient pyramid in Mexico has collapsed due to heavy rains.
But some people claim it to be more than a natural disaster; a signal of a bad omen ‘that some event is approaching.’
Located in the Ihuatzio Archaeological Zone near Lake Pátzcuaro in Michoacán, the pre-Hispanic pyramid fell apart after a storm caused its south wall to crumble into debris.
The structure's interior was already weakened as a result of high temperatures. So, the heavy downpour of rain would've seeped into the stones and caused the centre of the south wall to split.
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According to Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the heavy rains on 29 July 2024, exceeded the 'expected average of precipitation.'
They said: ‘The high temperatures, previously recorded in the area, and the consequent drought caused cracks that favoured the filtration of water into the interior of the pre-Hispanic building.’
INAH and other experts quickly responded to assess the damage.
‘Beginning in the early hours of Tuesday, the 30th, INAH Michoacán Center personnel moved to the heritage site to assess the damage caused,' they added.
‘Their observations confirmed the damage to at least six of the stepped bodies of the so-called South Base, both in its exterior wall of slabs, as well as in its core and retaining wall.’
The experts are now working on repairing the damage and plan to use new techniques to restore the pyramid, as previous repair attempts on similar structures have previously been unsuccessful.
‘Damage assessment activities continue and are focused not only on recovering the affected part, but also on thoroughly repairing the structure of the building,’ they continued.
The pyramid is thought to be around 1,100 years old and was built by the ancestors of the Purépecha people, an indigenous community in Michoacán.
At its height, the Ihuatzio site covered about 150 hectares (1.5 km) and included at least 84 structures. Seven of these are still visible in the park today.
Some of the Purépecha people are classing the collapse as a bad omen, indicating ‘that some event is approaching.’
A translated version of one of the descendant's posts read: ‘Before the arrival of the conquerors, according to historical accounts, something similar happened to the purhé (Purépechan) worldview of that time was because the Gods Nana kuerhaépiri and K’eri Kurikweri were displeased’.
