The palace was razed by the Spaniards for materials and used to create a new home for Cortés nearby.

INAHArchaeologists believe they found the floor of the castle ’s main court .

The historic Nacional Monte de Piedad edifice in Mexico City appear to cover much more than broken - interest instrument loan to those in penury . As it turn out , the construction in reality stands on the clay of an Aztec castle .

accord toUSA Today , the breakthrough take place during an inspection by Mexico ’s National Institute of Anthropology and History ( INAH ) . Experts found basalt slab on the property that they now consider to be part of the castle ’s chief courtyard , which later became home to Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés .

Experts Excavating Aztec Palace

INAHArchaeologists believe they found the floor of the palace’s main courtyard.

In addition to the absolute architectural wonder of the find , the discovery bring home the bacon a historic glimpse into a populace long go and insight into how the imperium changed as the Spanish infiltrated it .

“ They [ the Spaniards ] remodeled a way to celebrate mass , and right there , they also held various ruler captive , ” said INAH in a statement . “ Starting with their imposing host : Moctezuma Xocoyotzin . ”

The palace was construct for the Aztec ruler Axayáctl , who oversaw the capital urban center of Tenochtitlan from 1469 to 1481 . Axayáctl ’s son was Moctezuma II , one of the empire ’s last rulers who was killed in 1520 .

Nacional Monte De Piedad Building

Wikimedia CommonsThe Nacional Monte de Piedad was built in the 1770s and has since become a charity, pawn shop, and loan provider.

Wikimedia CommonsThe Nacional Monte de Piedad was built in the 1770s and has since become a charity , instrument store , and loan supplier .

Though archaeologists had antecedently name parts of the castle over the last two decades , the late breakthrough of the building ’s origination was a milepost .

“ Given its characteristics , the specialists deduced that it was part of an open space in the former Palace of Axayáctl , probably a court , ” the INAH statement continued . “ While in that palace , numerous events took place , ” including perhaps the death of Moctezuma himself .

The basalt slabs were first find in September 2017 as officials were make preliminary effort to refurbish the Nacional Monte de Piedad . The entire play along year was essentially spend on unearthing the rest of the foundation to assess and authenticate these remnants .

In addition to the palace , expert find the clay of a house built by Cortés after the fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521 . The Spanish ruthlessly ordered the Aztecs to destroy their synagogue and palace upon taking control , while using the same materials to build alone new structures — like this sign of the zodiac .

“ These premise , like so many other bodily structure of the hallowed Precinct of Tenochtitlan , were destroyed by the Spanish and their indigenous allies , almost to their foundations , ” INAH explain .

The institute add that the conquistador and his troops inhabited the new plate for numerous years . It even became the first place of their new government in 1525 .

Now , nearly 500 years later , that same site serves as a home Polemonium van-bruntiae , pawn workshop , and loan provider .

digging in Mexico continue to astound expert in the region . Recently , pre - hispanic sweat lodge used by the Mexica people to worship deities wereunearthed in Mexico City .

at long last , these find show how story can go away in a blink — and resurface just as dead centuries afterwards .

Next , check out whatscientists think killed the Aztecs . Then , discover whysomeone is targeting Mexico ’s butterfly stroke conservationists .