The Conservation Project at the Temple of Quetzalcoatl

This downloadable exhibit, available in English and Spanish, describes the construction of the Quetzalcoatl pyramid, the mechanisms that caused its deterioration, and the most recent conservation project carried out by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) of Mexico at the Temple of Quetzalcoatl in the Archaeological site of Teotihuacan, Mexico with financial support from World Monuments Fund.

Teotihuacan was included on the World Monuments Watch in 1998 and 2000. In 2004, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl was included individually on the Watch because it was in a state of extreme deterioration caused by exposure to the elements and inappropriate previous interventions. The ensuing multi-year conservation project carried out between 2004 and 2008 included the implementation of emergency interventions, cleaning, archaeological research, and the development of a conservation maintenance plan designed for the long-term preservation of the site.