Mexico’s Ancient Pyramid Crumbles to Ruins: A Historic Discovery

Escalating climatic disturbances and the encroachment of rising seas are jeopardizing invaluable cultural heritage sites globally, placing them in significant peril.

A striking illustration of this troubling trend emerged in 2024, as a stone pyramid in Mexico succumbed to an increasingly erratic global climate.

On July 29, the 15-meter (approximately 50-foot) square monument, situated in the state of Michoacán, collapsed catastrophically under the relentless drumming of sustained rainfall, its southern wall disintegrating into a mound of debris.

Esteemed as one of the most well-preserved edifices of the Michoacán Kingdom civilization, the pyramid is part of Ihuatzio, a remarkably intact archaeological site featuring another pyramid, a defensive tower, and several tombs.

This site was first established around 1,100 years ago by Nahuatl-speaking indigenous groups. Subsequently, it became the epicenter of the P’urhépecha people, renowned as the only civilization to evade Aztec conquest. Their cultural legacy continues to flourish today.

Although only one pyramid sustained damage, personnel from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) reported that at least six of its ‘stepped bodies’ exhibit signs of neglect, encompassing both the outer wall and its core structure.

They attributed the calamity to the extreme meteorological conditions preceding the event.

During July, the apex of the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, torrential rain and fierce thunderstorms assaulted vast regions of Mexico, a stark contrast to the devastating drought that plagued the nation for three decades, rendering several lakes desiccated.

“The elevated temperatures documented in the region, coupled with the resultant drought, created fissures that facilitated the infiltration of water into the ancient edifice,” stated an INAH announcement.

Consequently, the structure’s collapse appeared almost preordained. Authorities are now prioritizing repairs to safeguard the integrity of this significant cultural heritage.

While archaeologists are committed to unraveling the complexities of human behaviour throughout history, it is inescapably clear that their endeavors are invariably affected by contemporary anthropogenic activities.

The escalating incidence of extreme weather phenomena and rising sea levels, fueled by human-induced climate change, emerges as a formidable threat to vital sites representative of our cultural past.

Recently, researchers have discovered that ancient cave paintings in Oceania are deteriorating at an alarming rate due to rapid climatic shifts.

This year, a study examining the resilience of cultural heritage building materials in Europe and Mexico revealed that significant increases in precipitation pose heightened risks of damage to such structures.

According to Tariakuiri Alvarez, a current member of the P’urhépecha tribe, his ancestors would have interpreted the pyramid’s degradation as an ominous sign.

In a Facebook post, Alvarez articulated that prior to the arrival of foreign conquerors in Mexico, similar occurrences were perceived as divine displeasure.

Shortly before the pyramid’s collapse in Mexico, Utah’s iconic ‘Double Arch’ also succumbed to structural failure, presumably due to fluctuating water levels and erosion.

Heritage sites of this nature are invaluable assets that humanity strives to conserve for future generations. Witnessing their disintegration due to a climate drastically reshaped by human actions is a source of profound disquiet, extending beyond ephemeral concerns.