February 11, 2020

Aztec Sweat Bath Uncovered in Mexico City

INAH has uncovered an Aztec sweat bath (tamazcals) in the La Merced neighborhood of Mexico City. They were built for medicinal purposes, spiritual rituals and for women to giver birth. A  house for the Aztec elite and Spanish tannery were also uncovered at the site. Mexica. Aztec style red motifs are on the walls of the house.

The sweat bath is fairly intact with a bathtub and a bench build into the wall
INAH says “An Aztec record says that a Mexica noblewoman named Quetzalmoyahuatzin regularly bathed in a temazcal before giving birth. Now that a sweat lodge like the one described in this record has actually been discovered, that written document is largely verified as fact.”
Research will continue at the site.

BBC News and Archaeology-World have the reports here with many photos;

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-51205284

https://www.archaeology-world.com/native-american-14th-century-sweat-lodge-discovered-in-mexico-city/