Скачать или смотреть Liquid Mercury Discovered in a Chamber Beneath One of the Oldest Known Pyramids in Mexico

Mexico's ancient city of Teotihuacan, a sprawling metropolis that predates the Aztecs, holds many secrets. But, a mysterious discovery beneath the iconic Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent, the third largest pyramid at the site, has added another layer of intrigue – large quantities of liquid mercury! This rare discovery deep within the pyramid has archaeologists scratching their heads.

Liquid mercury, a shimmering but toxic metal, wasn't exactly on their treasure map. The find was made by Sergio Gomez, an archaeologist with Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History, while exploring a tunnel leading beneath the pyramid. He stumbled upon the mercury in 2006, after years of gradual excavation.

One theory is that the mercury played a role in rituals connected to the underworld. In Mesoamerican cultures, water played a significant role in the afterlife. Mercury's reflective nature could have symbolized rivers or lakes of the underworld, acting as a guide for souls on their journey after death. This is further bolstered by the fact that mercury is often found in Mesoamerican tombs, but in the form of cinnabar, a red pigment. Liquid mercury, however, is extremely rare in the archaeological record of the region.

But there's another, more mind-bending theory. Mercury is a great conductor of electricity! While the concept of complex electrical devices in Teotihuacan seems fantastical, some archaeologists propose that the civilization might have used the metal for more advanced purposes. Perhaps they used it in a rudimentary form of battery, or even some kind of electrical decoration or signaling device. While there's no current evidence to directly support this, it highlights the ingenuity of ancient cultures and the possibility that we may be underestimating their technological capabilities.

This discovery raises more questions than answers. Why did the Teotihuacans possess so much mercury? Experts estimate it was a large quantity. Obtaining it would have been no small feat, as the nearest natural source of mercury is hundreds of kilometers away. And what ingenious purpose did it serve? Was it purely for rituals, or was there something more?

Teotihuacan continues to be an enigma. The presence of liquid mercury adds another puzzle piece, hinting at the complexity and potential technological advancements of this ancient civilization. The Maya, another Mesoamerican culture, are known for their sophisticated astronomical knowledge and complex calendar systems. Could the Teotihuacans have possessed similar ingenuity in other areas, like rudimentary electricity?

As archaeologists delve deeper into the tunnels beneath the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent and Teotihuacan as a whole, we can only wait with bated breath to see what other secrets may be revealed. Will the mystery of the liquid mercury be solved? Will it lead to a reevaluation of Teotihuacan's technological capabilities? Stay tuned for further developments in this fascinating archaeological saga!

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