On the threshold of a temple, they found the bone remains of around 40 children. The bones were grouped together with precious ritual objects and offerings to the gods. Children’s bones from the same period have also been found in the Great Pyramid. It wasn’t unusual for the Aztecs to sacrifice young children, but these numbers are exceptional. The victims are thought to have been between 2 and 6 years of age. Scientists are currently analyzing the remains to find out why these children were chosen. By extracting and testing samples of their DNA, the scientists would discover their sex and more about their health. When the terrible years of drought finally ended, the Aztecs built a series of new temples, giving thanks to the gods so that it would never happen again. On the hill of Texico Single on the line which joined the mountains with the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan, the poet ruler of the time designed a ritual center, dedicated to the god of rain and his consort, the water goddess.
Historians had known about this place from the Aztec records, but it was Dick Thomson who first uncovered its significance.
I simply had a kind of premonition that this amazing sort of Condacal hill was going to be very, very important and sure enough upon coming up the trail and seeing that great tank of water and realizing that streams of water were flowing in here. I thought this is a sacred mountain.
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deseased: adj. 患病的
consort: n. 配偶
premonition: n. 先兆