Apr 30, 2024 09:07:00

Ancient city of Teotihuacan hit by five devastating megathrust earthquakes, one of which may have led to fatal damage

A new study suggests that the demise of the ancient

Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan , a World Heritage Site, may have been caused by five devastating megathrust earthquakes , one of which may have been the deciding factor.

Teotihuacan ancient culture affected by megathrust earthquakes during the early Epiclassic Period (Mexico) - ScienceDirect
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X24001561

5 catastrophic megathrust earthquakes led to the demise of the pre-Aztec city of Teotihuacan, new study suggests | Live Science

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/5-catastrophic-megathrust-earthquakes-led-to-the-demise-of-the-pre-aztec-city-of-teotihuacan-new-study-suggests

The Teotihuacan civilization flourished from around BC to the 7th century, mainly in the area near present-day Mexico City, reaching its peak around 650 AD when the population exceeded 100,000, but then went into rapid decline.

The cause of the sudden population decline is unknown, and various factors, including war and famine, are thought to be involved.

The new study analyzed archaeological sites, including the famous Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon, and found that chipped corners of the pyramids' stones indicate that Teotihuacan was hit by five mega-thrust earthquakes between 100 and 600 AD.

According to lead researcher Laus Pérez-Lopez, the Great East Japan Earthquake was also a megathrust earthquake, and the seismic energy released would be equivalent to about 32,000 nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima.

After the earthquake, the people of Teotihuacan carried out earthquake-proofing work on the pyramids and tried to hide the damage so that it would not be noticeable.

But the final major earthquake, along with the chaos, may have shaken society's physical foundations, sparking social discontent and leading to civil unrest, Pérez-López and his team believe.