Gran Basamento Mexica

Foto: Alejandra Carbajal, cortesía Km Cero

The Gran Basamento is an archaeological site and viewing area beneath the Calle Argentina just north of the Templo Mayor Museum.  Through the protective windows on the street, viewers can catch a glimpse of one of the remains of some of the northernmost temples within the sacred district of ancient Tenochtitlan.

The larger Templo Mayor complex was sacred and ritualistic site used for generations and culminating just prior to the Spanish invasion of 1519-21. The remains in the northern part of the complex have only been uncovered within the past ten years. The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) worked on the excavation for over three years although some research is still ongoing.

INAH worked in conjunction with the Program of Urban Archeology (PAU) and staff from the Templo Mayor Museum to better present the “Great Basement.” The base of the northernmost pyramid-temple measures some 40 meters from north to south. It’s thought that the dimensions would be the same along the east-west axis, but this has not been confirmed. Through the street-level windows, viewers can see evidence of five construction stages that occurred between 1440 and 1521. These are all evident just two meters below the present street level.

International visitors will want to spend some time in the broader area. It’s rich with places of interest both historically and culturally and home to some of the City’s best sight-seeing opportunities.