MEXICO CITY.- Mexico City’s deep pre-Hispanic past has surfaced once again—this time in the heart of the bustling La Lagunilla neighborhood. Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have uncovered the remains of a domestic dwelling that may help define the ancient limits of the island of Tlatelolco, one of the most important urban centers of the Mexica world.

The excavation, located along Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas in the Guerrero district, began on October 6 and is set to conclude in early December 2025. What began as a routine salvage operation quickly transformed into a significant discovery. Beneath layers of earth, specialists found three human burials, a stone tlecuil—a traditional hearth—and ceramics in the Aztec III style, all tied to Tlatelolco’s late Postclassic occupation (1325–1521).

“The fact that we haven’t hit lakebed sediments tells us we are standing on solid ground,” explained project lead Jimena Rivera Escamilla. “This helps us begin to outline where the island ended and where people established their settlements between Tlatelolco and what is now La Lagunilla.”

To map the area with precision, the team opened nine excavation units and a deep stratigraphic shaft reaching nearly four meters. The layers revealed evidence of human modification of the land over several centuries—signs of a community shaping its environment to build homes and neighborhoods.

Among the most moving finds are three burials thought to belong to the dwelling’s final occupation phase. One grave contained a child between two and five years old, laid on its back and accompanied by a red-polished Texcoco-style cup as an offering. Nearby, archaeologists found a neonate, just weeks old at death, placed face down beside a wall; its delicate skull had not survived the passage of time. A third burial, that of a subadult aged 12 to 15, was discovered in a fetal position, though its missing skull raises questions researchers hope further study will answer.

The presence of a stone tlecuil in the yard further confirms the domestic nature of the site. Combined with relatively refined ceramics, archaeologists believe the home likely belonged to a family above the lowest social ranks.

Additional objects—spindle whorls, pottery fragments, obsidian blades in multiple colors, figurines, and a seal depicting a monkey linked to the wind god Ehécatl—provide intimate glimpses of daily life in this ancient neighborhood.

As excavation continues, INAH emphasizes collaboration with the local community to protect these fragile remnants of Mexico’s past. “This heritage is shared,” Rivera Escamilla said. “By caring for it together, we preserve history for future generations.”