The 1.93kg slab of gold was discovered in a park in Mexico City in 1981 by a construction worker during excavations for a new building along the Alameda. How it got there remained a mystery, as the Aztec civilisation ruled in a more southern part of Mexico, while the capital city is more north of where the Aztecs once ruled. However, analysis of a Spanish invaders diary revealed the gold bar was looted by Hernan Cortes in 1520.

Cortes was a famous Spanish conquistador who docked at Veracruz in April 1519. The following year, on June 30, the Spanish were forced to temporarily retreat as they had just slaughtered the Aztec’s nobles and priests, leaving the Aztec’s furious in a night known as ‘Noche Triste’, or ‘Sad Night’. However, Cortes did not leave without a gift, and decided to take the weighty piece of gold with him, before evidently losing it. A statement from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) said: “The so-called ‘Noche Triste’ is among the episodes of the conquest that will be remembered this year, and there is only one piece of material evidence from it: a gold bar that sank 500 years ago in the canals of Tenochtitlan, and which recent analysis confirms came from the (Spaniards’) flight.

Archaeology news: Gold looted from the Aztecs by conquistador Hernan Cortes discovered

The gold bar looted from the Aztecs

“This bar is a key piece in the puzzle of this historical event.” INAH also recently discovered two 500-year anchors were uncovered at the Gulf of Mexico which belonged to Cortes. The two anchors were embedded in sediment, at depths between 33 and 50 feet. The divers then reburied the anchors, in order to preserve them. Remarkably, an intact wooden crosspiece had been discovered in the same vicinity last year. READ MORE: Archaeology breakthrough: Workers found 'mysterious' Aztec stone

The Aztecs died out in 1521

Subsequent analysis concluded the artefact dates somewhere between 1450 and 1530 - the same period in which Cortes arrived in the area. Cortes intentionally sunk 10 ships to prevent potential dissident soldiers deserting to Cuba, according to historical documents. The anchors were recently found at the location in which the sinking is thought to have taken place. INAH said that the anchors were in a southwesterly direction, which is further indication that they may have been part of Cortes’ fleet. DON'T MISS

Secret Aztec temple discovered hidden INSIDE ancient Mexican pyramid [INSIGHT]

Aztec human sacrifice ritual site DISCOVERED in Mexico [DISCOVERY]

Aztec stone SHOCK: Ancient structure is depiction of UNIVERSE [STUDY]

Hernan Cortes was key to the Spanish conquest

Trending