ARCHAEOLOGY

AND ANCIENT
MEXICO
WITH ARCHAEOLOGIST SARAH LOOMIS
WHAT IS ARCHAEOLOGY?

• Archaeology is the
study of the human past

Archaeologists study
humans. Paleontologists
study dinosaurs.
HOW DOES ARCHAEOLOGY WORK?

• Archaeologists excavate
sites to find ancient
artifacts

Sometimes
archaeologists also find
ancient written records
MESOAMERICA
• Mesoamerica is the
name for the ancient
societies of Mexico and
Central America

Mesoamerica
was home to
many unique
plants and
animals
MESOAMERICA MAP
THE OLMECS

• Known for the giant

stone sculptures of their
rulers

Also developed the

earliest writing in
Mesoamerica
THE MAYA
• Known for their city-
states with temples,
monuments, and writing

The Maya also played a

ball game that was
popular throughout
Mesoamerica
TEOTIHUACAN
• A huge city that built
pyramids along its central
avenue and traded with
societies throughout
Mesoamerica

The Aztecs called it the “City of the Gods” and

patterned many of their own buildings after it
 THE AZTECS
• Tenochtitlan, the capital city
of the Aztecs, was built in the
middle of a lake, full of
canoes and floating gardens

Aztec warriors
wore outfits
designed to look
like eagles,
jaguars, anc
coyotes
SMALLER SOCIETIES
• Hundreds of societies
existed in ancient
Mexico, many of which
are still around today

I research
Teuchitlán
in Jalisco,
Mexico
 ANCIENT TRADITIONS IN MODERN
MEXICO
• The Day of the Dead
started as an Aztec festival

Another
event with
ancient roots
are yearly
dances in
jaguar masks
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