What happened

On the night of July 29, a square-based, 15-meter-high pyramid suddenly appeared in the state of Michoacán. collapsed under the pressure of the constant rainThe south wall was reduced to rubble.

This pyramid was one of the best preserved monuments of the Kingdom of Michoacan civilization. Another pyramid is located in Ihuatzio, a well-preserved archaeological site that includes a fortress and several tombs.

She was Built 1100 years ago by local Nahuatl-speaking groups. Later, it became the refuge of the Purhepechas people, the only empire the Aztecs failed to conquer. The culture thrives to this day.

Collapse of the southern wall of the pyramid / Photo: Ramiro Aguayo/INAH

Only one of the pyramids at the site was damaged, but staff at Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) say at least six of the “stepped trunks”, including the outer wall, core and retaining wall, are in disrepair.

Blame the extreme weather of recent weeks. In July, at the height of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, torrential downpours and thunderstorms hit much of Mexico. This comes after the country experienced its worst drought in 30 years, when scant rain caused many lakes to dry up.

The high temperatures previously recorded in the region and the subsequent drought caused cracks to form in the region. [потім] It contributed to the ingress of water into the pre-Hispanic building,
– says INAH’s statement.

After that, collapse was almost inevitable. Authorities are now focused on repairing the pyramid, for which they have commissioned a local insurance company.

Another angle / Photo: Ramiro Aguayo/INAH

The destruction of the past is sad news for our present

Archaeologists’ work involves studying human behavior in the past, but their work is inevitably influenced by modern human activities. Extreme weather conditions and rising sea levels caused by anthropogenic climate change are posing serious problems for important cultural monuments of the past.

• Archaeologists recently discovered that ancient cave paintings in Oceania are deteriorating due to accelerating climate change.
• And this year, a study of cultural heritage building materials in Europe found that significantly increased rainfall damages old buildings.
• A few days before the pyramid collapse in Mexico, Utah’s iconic Double Arch also collapsed, likely due to changing water levels and erosion.

According to Tariaquiri Alvarez, a living member of the Puerhepecha tribe who identifies himself, his ancestors must have viewed the destruction of the Ihuatio pyramid as a “bad omen.” In a recent Facebook post, Alvarez said something similar had happened before foreign conquerors arrived in Mexico and that they believed it was due to “the displeasure of the gods.”

Collapse of the southern wall of the pyramid / Photo: Ramiro Aguayo/INAH