Templo Mayor, Mexico

In March 2016, CyArk documented Templo Mayor in the historic center of Mexico City. CyArk offered its assistance to site conservators who were recording some of the more fragile artifacts located around the temple along with several ornate objects from the adjacent museum. As transporting the original artifacts is a dangerous endeavor, museum staff requested 3D scans in order to create replicas that can be loaned to other museums.This research project was undertaken in collaboration with the Templo Mayor Museum. We would like to thank our partners at the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) for the opportunity to assist with their work and our partners at Leica Geosystems and Artec 3D for lending equipment in support of the project.

During the course of excavation at Templo Mayor a stone Chacmool figure was discovered.  First appearing in the Valley of Mexico in the 9th century, the Chacmool form depicts a reclining figure with its head facing 90 degrees from the front. The figure is usually supporting itself on its elbows while holding a bowl or a disk upon its stomach. These figures possibly symbolized slain warriors carrying offerings to the gods and the bowls upon the chest were used to hold sacrificial offerings.