The statue is likely part of the temple’s decoration and symbolizes the serpent god Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl is half snake, half bird, and was usually depicted with a feathered head. What is strange is that this statue does not have feathers, but rather scales, just like a regular snake.
The snake’s head was found under the university building after the earthquake. Cracks in the ground have dried up groundwater and a layer of clay that has covered the statue for more than 500 years.
The slow process should save the colors
Archaeologists are lucky that the statue was buried in mud, because this means it was extremely well preserved. After analysis, the National Institute of History and History concluded that 80 percent of the original colors were still visible.
But the paint the Aztecs made from minerals and plants is fragile, and preserving the colors requires patience. A change in the environment after 500 years can cause significant damage: “Our goal is to make the snake head slowly release the moisture accumulated in the stone,” say experts from INAH.
“If we work too quickly, color loss may occur and the stone statue may crack or crystallize,” experts explain.
A special dehumidification chamber has been created, where the snake’s head will remain for several months while the colors are gradually preserved and everything is analysed.
