The Avenue of the Dead, known in Spanish as Calzada de los Muertos, is one of the most significant archaeological features of the ancient city of Teotihuacan in Mexico. This grand avenue stretches for approximately 2 kilometers, running north to south, and is lined with numerous monumental structures, pyramids, and other important buildings, making it a central artery in the urban layout of Teotihuacan.
Teotihuacan, which means "the place where the gods were created," was one of the largest and most influential cities in Mesoamerica, flourishing between approximately 100 BCE and 600 CE. The Avenue of the Dead served as the main thoroughfare through the city, guiding visitors and residents past some of its most revered sites:
The avenue itself was designed with impressive engineering feats:
The name "Avenue of the Dead" was given by the Aztecs centuries after Teotihuacan's decline. They believed that the structures along this avenue were tombs for the city's rulers, hence the name. However, archaeological evidence suggests these were not tombs but rather structures used for various functions, including religious, administrative, and residential purposes.
Excavations along the Avenue of the Dead have revealed: