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

The sacred sun and moon pyramids Millon et al. (1965) suggested that the Pyramid of the Sun was constructed between the years 1 and 150 CE (early Tzacualli), but the results from radiocarbon dating suggest that the construction of the complex (170 - 310 CE), and the subterranean tunnel (140 - 240 CE) are later than previously thought (Sugiyama and Cabrera-Castro, 2007; Sugiyama et al., 2013). The pyramid is a mud mound filled with fragments of tepetate and adobe bricks and stones, covered in a succession of tablero-talud facades, and enlarged at different phases (Sugiyama et al., 2013). The Pyramid of the Moon is a quadrangular pyramid with a 144 x 144 m2 base, and 43 m in height. Excavations from Sugiyama and Cabrera-Castro (2007) have divided the building evolution into five stages with two pyramid enlargements from Building 1 (100 ± 50 CE), probably younger than the Pyramid of the Sun, to Building 7 (400 ± 50 CE). Once again, the constructive style is tablero-talud, with the main staircase located on the south facade. Eaes on the feathered serpent temple and pyramids The first description of the damage affecting the facade of the Feathered Serpent Old Temple was from Sugiyama (1989). Kovacs (2004) introduced the possibility of a strong earthquake affecting the city, and Pérez-Lopez et al (2010; 2012; 2024) showed the seismic pattern affecting the Feathered Serpent Temple. Because of the destruction, the west staircase was covered by a new facade (Adosada platform), conforming to the Feathered Serpent New Temple. The original west staircase (Fig. 2) was reconstructed with concrete and volcanic blocks, although it was covered by another facade. One of the figures located at the lowest part of the staircase balusters (rafters) was damaged and replaced, which can be interpreted as a potential stone extrusion from seismic loading. Fig. 3: Spatial location of EAEs in the west facades of the Pyramid of the Sun and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, and estimation of the seismic ray direction (SSD) coming from far-field seismic source (red line, from MAT, SW of the city).