Elite Toltec Structure and Carved Tombstones Discovered Near Ancient Tula
Archaeologists working near the ancient city of Tollan Xicocotitlan have uncovered the remains of an elite Toltec building, two carved stone tombstones and several ritual burials, providing fresh evidence that important communities continued to flourish around Tula even after the city's political peak.
The discoveries were made during archaeological rescue excavations carried out by specialists from Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). The work took place ahead of the construction of a water treatment plant in Tula de Allende, just 100 metres from the protected Tula Archaeological Zone.
At the centre of the excavation is a large ceremonial building known as Structure II. Measuring approximately 40 by 80 metres, the complex dates to the 12th century AD, a period when groups living around the former Toltec capital continued to embrace its religious beliefs, architecture and political traditions.Image Credit : Gerardo Peña, INAH
Researchers found that the building was decorated with carved chalchihuites, green stone symbols linked to power, wealth and high social status. They also uncovered two impressive carved stone reliefs believed to have originally decorated Pyramid B, the famous Temple of Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, known for its towering Atlantean warrior statues.
One relief portrays Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, the Toltec deity associated with the Morning Star and an aspect of Quetzalcoatl. The second depicts a finely carved feline figure similar to decorations previously found on Pyramid B.
According to excavation director Luis Gamboa Cabezas, these discoveries show that later communities deliberately reused powerful Toltec symbols to reinforce their own authority as the influence of Tula gradually declined.
The feline carving also solves a long-standing archaeological mystery. Earlier excavations suggested that decorative carvings appeared on only one side of Pyramid B. The newly discovered relief, carved in the opposite direction, indicates the decorative sequence likely surrounded the monument, completing its original design.
Excavations produced hundreds of additional artifacts dating between AD 1100 and 1521. Among them were ceramic vessels, plates, shell beads, spindle whorls, seals, bone awls and numerous figurines. Particularly notable are fragments showing a blue-painted canine wearing a ceremonial headdress and part of a vessel decorated with a feathered serpent.
Archaeologists also uncovered several human burials beneath the remains of ancient structures. One of the most remarkable discoveries was the burial of six children between one and six years old, who appear to have been interred together beneath a house floor as part of a ceremonial offering.
Researchers recovered a copper awl alongside one burial that matches scraping marks identified on a human jawbone. Specialists believe this tool may have been used during ritual ceremonies, although further analysis is needed before confirming its exact purpose.
The site has previously produced significant archaeological finds. Rescue excavations conducted in 2018 uncovered 23 human skulls showing intentional cranial modification and decorative dental alterations, practices commonly associated with elite members of pre-Hispanic society.
Because the excavation area lies within the floodplain of the Tula River, all recovered artifacts are undergoing careful conservation. The carved tombstones will be preserved along with their surviving painted surfaces, while the architectural remains have been documented, stabilized and reburied beneath protective layers to safeguard them for future generations.
INAH has also reached an agreement with local authorities to limit future construction above the archaeological remains, ensuring that this important part of Toltec heritage remains protected.
Researchers believe the discoveries demonstrate that the protected archaeological zone represents only a small portion of the original city. The findings continue to reveal the true scale of ancient Tula and highlight the importance of archaeological monitoring during modern infrastructure projects across Mexico.