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Aztec archaeologists can almost taste the jack pot. None of the empire's royal burial sites have ever been found, but researchers participating in the Templo Mayor excavation project in downtown Mexico City think an emperor’s tomb is just around the corner.
In 2006, researchers discovered a 4-meter (13-foot) long carving of Tlaltecuhtli, the Aztec earth goddess (shown at left). Since then, further digging has revealed bizarre offerings that archaeologists believe indicate the presence of a near by royal burial.
Tlaltecuhtli was one of the most feared deities. She represented life and nurturing, as well as death. Stories recount her insatiable appetite for blood and the large, unearthed carving depicts a stream of blood rushing out of her mouth.
To honor the powerful goddess, the Aztec buried an odd assortment of offerings, including a wolf adorned in turquoise jewelry (featured in the picture to the right), underneath the stone slab. Many pieces of the offering hailed from distant lands, such as shells from the ocean.
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