Discovery of the Aztec Calendar Stone

Background. The Aztec sun stone, a late post-classic Mexica sculpture, was buried in the Zócalo shortly after the Spanish conquest. Archbishop Alonso de Montúfar ordered its burial to erase memory of ancient sacrifices. The monument remained lost for centuries until its 1790 rediscovery, which sparked renewed interest in Aztec culture despite Western perspectives often misinterpreting its ritual function.

Discovery. Rediscovered on 17 December 1790 during repairs on the Mexico City Cathedral, the stone was found half a yard deep. Architect José Damián Ortiz de Castro reported the finding, noting its location 80 yards west of the Royal Palace's second door and 37 yards north of the Portal of Flowers. The discovery occurred during new paving work in the main square.

Aftermath. Following its rediscovery, the monolith was placed on the west tower of the Metropolitan Cathedral on 2 July 1791. This vertical display, contrary to its original horizontal ritual use, sparked controversy. Scholars like Antonio de León y Gama began analyzing the stone's complexity, producing early treatises on Mexican archaeology in 1792.