For the first half of the first millennium, A.D, Teotihuacán was the dominant civilization in Mesoamerica and one of the great cities of the ancient world. The city was laid out on a grid, most likely in the early 1st century A.D., and the major structures were built between the 2nd and late 6th centuries. (...)
For the first half of the first millennium, A.D, Teotihuacán was the dominant civilization in Mesoamerica and one of the great cities of the ancient world. The city was laid out on a grid, most likely in the early 1st century A.D., and the major structures were built between the 2nd and late 6th centuries. At its peak, around 200,000 people lived in the city, rivaling or exceeding in population many of the largest cities of European Antiquity. A variety of problems caused the collapse of the civilization in the 8th century.
The significant monuments at the site are Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. The latter is located across from today’s main entrance and sits along the southeast side of Avenue of the Dead. In the early 20th century, excavations revealed the lower sections of a late-third-century western façade. Fantastic and rare carvings on the surfaces show depictions of the feathered serpent deity, other gods, and seashells on panels on either side of a staircase. Since discovery, this important structure with its extremely rare carvings has been exposed to the elements. Rain and groundwater, crystallization of soluble salts on the surface, erosion, and biological growth caused the loss of stone on the surface, as well as the detachment of larger pieces. Walls, stairs, and plaster also suffered from visitation pressure of tourism, increasing the need for overall planning for site presentation.
