How authentic is the popular ‘Aztec/

Maya Circle of Friends’ figure?

We survey our Panel of Experts on

their preferred ‘Desert Island Artefact’...

Nahua walking sticks of today are descended

from ancient Mesoamerican merchants’ staffs

A stunning infographic shows exactly where key

Mexica artefacts have been found in Mexico City

Large sea shells have been luxury objects

for over 3,000 years in Mesoamerica

The broom was a weapon - ‘the housewife’s

defense against invading dirt and disorder’

Feathers from ‘pretty much every bird’

were used by the Aztecs and the Maya

‘Moctezuma’s Headdress’ - a 2018 update:

Report on a one-day symposium in London

The chimalli: one of the most emblematic

weapons in the history of Mesoamerica

The story behind the famous monkey

shaped obsidian jar from Texcoco...

Under the day sign One Death

Aztec slaves were released from their collars

A Mexican community rediscovers its cultural heritage in education,

history, archaeology and campaigning...

Coatlicue - the epitome

of Mexica/Aztec art...

Could this be the eighth known piece

of pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican featherwork?

Guess how many feathers went

into making this famous Aztec shield?

Europe has many Mesoamerican objects

that were victims of ‘mistaken identity’...

‘The primary association of a chair

is with power....’

The Templo Mayor Museum has a rare example

of a Mexica priest’s waistcoat...

The Dumbarton Oaks ‘Aztec’ Birthing Figure

is striking, powerful, and entirely unparalleled

A stone Aztec jaguar head still lurks

just 7 blocks from the Zócalo...

You will never guess what some children

think a molinillo is for...!

Aztec pine torches gave plenty of

rich aroma as well as light!

See and Be Seen - the meaning of

‘smoking’ obsidian mirrors

An Aztec thief just had to ‘lift the lid’

of the family treasure chest

The ‘personified knives’ from Ofrenda 125

of the sacred precinct of Tenochtitlan

The V&A Museum has, stored away, a mysterious

‘monster’ metate which we’ve been allowed to see

In ancient Mexico the oldest clay stamps

were hand modelled...

The famous atlatl dart-thrower

was a truly ancient hunting weapon

Every Mexica family owned something ceramic

- what a lotta pottery!

Rulers were said to carry

a heavy LOAD of responsibility...

The best stone sauce bowls

take generations to ‘season’

The reed mat ‘petate’ -

- you could bet your life on it...

Symbol of a good Aztec citizen?

The upright digging stick

Getting to the hearth of the matter

- at the very centre of Aztec life

Did the ancient Mexicans invent

high-chairs for meal times?

We share in schools the Aztecs’ joy of carrying

the most precious artefact of all - a young baby...

Maquahuitl

- the Aztecs’ Broadsword

The Aztec Uictli

was in some contexts a sacred instrument

Strictly ‘tzictli’ - sticky chicle!

Nip up a gum tree and discover the original Aztec recipe...

An obsidian ‘microphone’

- basic kit for Aztec DJs!

¡Viva el Chicozapote!

Up the Chewing Gum Tree!

As well as chewing chicle latex

ancient peoples used it to seal and stick

Chimalli

Aztec shields - status symbols par excellence

Teponaztli

The ‘Queen’ of Aztec sacred drums ...

Metate

One of the most ancient of Aztec artefacts

Sun moon

Venus -

U-tube - a great source of music...

...for over 800 years!

Did these figures represent

multi-ethnic ancient Mexico?

Did the ancient Mexicans

play marbles, or jacks?