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ABSTRACT
The Skull Altar is located in the Historical Centre of Mexico City, part of the Sacred Precinct of Tenochtitlan built by the Aztecs. This Archaeological site is designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Skull Altar contains a core of igneous stones, with walls made of rock wedges carved in the shape of skulls, covered with lime mortars, with remains of red and yellow polychromy. The building is composed of approximately 264 skulls. It is an example of the organic relationship that a stone object maintains with architecture in its constructive, formal, spatial and symbolic aspect. Many factors contribute to the deterioration of the site, all related to its geographical location within the valley of Mexico and the historical processes through which it has passed. The integrity and stability of the Skull Altar are affected by the slumping of the land caused by draining of the lake; previous archaeological and restoration interventions; and environmental conditions including factors such as humidity, temperature, light and the highly polluted environment. The knowledge obtained allows us to propose solutions to diminish the main causes of deterioration. It is a clear example of the need to inspect the environment, architecture and decorative elements in an organic multidisciplinary way.
Acknowledgements
This project has been developed thanks to the interest and support of Mtra. María Barajas Rocha, Dr Leonardo López Luján, Mtro. Carlos Flores Espino and all the professors and students of ENCRyM who were involved.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Correction Statement
This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.