Inside the Sun Pyramid at Teotihuacan, Mexico: 2008—2011 Excavations and Preliminary Results

Excavations at Teotihuacan's Sun Pyramid reveal that its subterranean tunnel was artificially constructed for ritual purposes, likely involving royal burials or offerings. The study identifies three distinct construction phases: a Pre-Sun Pyramid phase, the establishment of the main corpus, and the addition of an adosada platform. Burials, offerings, and other features were uncovered in each phase. New ceramic and radiocarbon dating challenge previous chronologies, suggesting that both the Sun Pyramid and its subterranean tunnel date to a later period (A.D. 170–310 for the pyramid and A.D. 140–240 for the tunnel) than previously believed. This redates the ceremonial center's construction, providing fresh insights into Teotihuacan's architectural and ritual practices.

Sugiyama, N., Sugiyama, S., & Alejandro, S. G. (2013). Inside the Sun Pyramid at Teotihuacan, Mexico: 2008—2011 Excavations and Preliminary Results. Latin American Antiquity, 24(4), 403–432. https://doi.org/10.7183/1045-6635.24.4.403