Archaeologists: Remnants of Aztec palace found in Mexico City

Archaeologists in Mexico have unearthed the remains of Axayacat and Hernán Corté's palace in Mexico City. During a reconstruction of a historic building in the city center, stone slabs of volcanic basalt and ceramics have been found under the house that can be dated to the time before the Spanish rule.

- We know that Axayacat's palace was right here as it is described in several documents, including by the Spanish conquistadors, says archaeologist Raul Barrera.

Azayacat was the ruler of the Aztecs 1469–1481 and the father of Moctezuma II, who became one of the last rulers of the Aztec Empire. The Aztecs called their capital Tenochtitlán, and it is believed that the Spanish colonizer Hernán Cortés lived in Axayacat's palace when he first came to the city.

When the Spaniards later came to power, the palace and other buildings and monuments in Tenochtitlán were demolished and looted. The remains were used to lay the foundation for today's Mexico City. And now archaeologists believe that the floor of Corte's palace was built of recycled building materials from Axayacat's home.

Mexico City is resting on a swamp and the excavations must be done carefully, as the house that is now being rebuilt stands on top of the remains of two palaces.

- We must take several security measures in order not to have problems with a declining base. We get advice from specialists and engineers who know how we can, and cannot, dig so as not to damage the historic building, says Raul Barrera.