Proceedings of the 12th International INQUA meeting on paleoseismology, active tectonic and archaeoseismology

Fig. 1: Spatial distribution of the main civilizations during the Classic period in Central Mexico. Orange triangles locate the main contemporaneous city-state centres. Black dots are modern cities. Red dots indicate earthquakes of magnitude M ≥ 7. Teotihuacan fall and down history The Teotihuacan culture stands as an enigmatic chapter in Mesoamerican history, shrouded in mystery and grandeur (Cowgill, 1997). Flourishing between the 1st and 7th centuries CE in what is now central Mexico (Fig. 1), the Teotihuacan civilization emerged as one of the most influential and sophisticated societies of ancient America. This period, known as the Classic Period in Mesoamerican chronology (Moragas-Segura, 2013), saw the rise of monumental architecture, intricate urban planning, and complex economic systems within the Teotihuacan city-state. At the heart of Teotihuacan lies its awe-inspiring architecture, dominated by iconic structures such as the Pyramid of the Sun (Millon et al., 1965), the Pyramid of the Moon (Carballo, 2007), and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent (Quetzalcoatl, Price, et al., 2020). These monumental edifices not only served as religious centres but also as symbols of power and authority, reflecting the society deeply entrenched religious beliefs and its hierarchical structure. Despite its remarkable achievements, the Teotihuacan civilization faced a mysterious collapse around the 7th century CE (Millon, 1988; Kovacs, 2004), leaving behind numerous