Archaeologists have found the remains of an ancient Mexican synagogue that was recall to be little more than a fable .
Within the city of Atlixco in central Mexico , there has long been a rumor of a fall back temple , orteocalli , that was built one C before the Spanish arrived in the former 16thcentury . agree to the local citizenry , the Atlixquenses , the synagogue was originally constructed on top of the San Miguel Hill where there is presently a Catholic chapel dedicated to the garden angelica Michael .
Despite these hearsay , no archaeological evidence for this legendarytemplehad ever been found . However , late work carry out by the Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico through the National Institute of Anthropology and History ( INAH ) has discovered tincture that confirm its existence .
The first grounds that led to this discovery appeared during endeavour to renew the chapel service ’s lighting and to reward the way leading up the hill . A team of researchers , coordinated by INAH archaeologists Miguel Medina Jaen and Carlos Cedillo Ortego , along with Elvia Cristina Sánchez de la Barquera , happen artifacts – gemstone tools , ornamentation , and clay vessels – that were over 1,000 yr old . These objects were create by theMesoamerican Nahua , who inhabit in this part century before Europeans make it .
The team carried out sketch work inside and around the chapel service ’s atrium and found the remains of stone wall and floors that had belonged to an ancient temple that pre - dates the current structure . These leftover are buried around 90 centimeters ( 35 inch ) below the foundation of the exist chapel .
This , allot to astatementreleased by the INAH , sufficiently support that “ a teocalli did exist on the summit of the hill , San Miguel , and that it had at least two construction stages . ”
At nowadays , it is not clear which immortal the tabernacle was dedicated to . Among those who may have been the focus of attention were the immortal Quetzalcóatl ( Lord and civilizer of humans ) , Tláloc ( giver of rain ) , or Macuilxóchitl ( a patron of romp , dance , and festivities ) .
However , more research is needed before any valid conclusions can be drawn . Other “ segments of the teocalli and greater clues to clarify which was its nominal deity still lie under the viceregal chapel service of San Miguel Arcángel , ” the statement adds .
“ Even with this atmosphere of mystery story , thearchaeologicalconfirmation of that ancient popular belief of more than 400 class will help strengthen the identity of the Atlixquenses . ”
