Mexico City, November 26, 2024 - Archaeologists have uncovered remnants of a pre-Hispanic dock and canal beneath Avenida Chapultepec, two meters below one of the city's main thoroughfares. The discovery was made during supervision of construction for an overpass near the Chapultepec Metro station.
The excavation team, led by María de Lourdes López Camacho from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), identified multiple sections of the artificial waterway, which likely facilitated canoe transport to Lake Texcoco.
The best-preserved segment of the canal, approximately 1.80 meters wide, lies beneath the busy avenue, near Calle Lieja and adjacent to the former Health Secretariat building. This area was once part of the pre-Hispanic settlement preceding San Miguel Chapultepec.
López Camacho described the find as fortunate given the extensive urban development since the late 19th century, which led to the disappearance of the original settlement. The canal is depicted on the Uppsala Map (circa 1550), indicating its historical significance as a primary water route.
The excavation site measures 2.50 meters wide by 4 meters long, limited by the Metro's water pipes to the south and drainage systems to the north. The project faces challenges managing water flow in the area, with contributions from archaeologists Paola González Montero and David Chávez Fernández.
Excavation leader Liliana Márquez Escoto noted that the hydrology of the site necessitated the use of pilings to support the canal's walls. The potential dock features a compacted area for access and 40 wooden pilings arranged transversely.
Analysis by Dr. Aurora Montúfar López indicates some pilings are made from fir or oyamel wood. Samples from the dock, measuring between 40 and 137 centimeters in height and 13 to 29 centimeters in thickness, will be sent for further analysis at INAH's Laboratory and Academic Support Subdirectorate.
Botanical remains found at the site suggest that the pre-Hispanic inhabitants' diet included quelites, squash, and tomatoes. The continuous occupation of the area is further evidenced by various artifacts currently being restored, including ritual ceramics such as incense burners and vessels with solar symbols, which may have been offerings to the water body during the Late Postclassic period.
Additionally, early colonial artifacts (1521-1620 AD) were recovered, including macuquinas (the first hammered coins of New Spain), green-glazed pottery, and bowls bearing stamps from hospitals and religious orders, alongside materials from the 20th century.