Scientists have unveiled a chilling truth about what the Aztecs did to appease the rain deity.

The excavations in the early 1980s unveiled a chilling chapter in the history of Mexican civilization: archaeologists discovered the remains of at least 42 children in the Templo Mayor temple in Tenochtitlan. Recently, scientists determined the reason for such sacrifices, reports Heritage Daily.

This temple, once the center of Mexico's spiritual life, was dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, the god of war, and Tlaloc, the god of rain and agriculture. Both deities were revered in shrines atop the pyramid. Following the Spanish conquest, much of the structure was dismantled, and its materials were repurposed for colonial construction.

According to recent findings from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the children's remains are sacrifices made to Tlaloc during a severe drought in the 1450s. Boys aged between 2 and 7 were placed in stone containers along with burial items, including a jade necklace and beads made of green stone found in their mouths.

Archaeologists also uncovered additional ritual offerings on top of the containers, which included layers of blue pigment, marine animals, bird remains, and sculptures resembling jugs adorned with Tlaloc's face. These discoveries indicate the ritual significance attributed to appeasing Tlaloc.

Geological data corroborate the timeline of the drought that occurred between 1452 and 1454. This coincides with the IVa phase of Templo Mayor's construction during the reign of Moctezuma I. Researchers suggest that the drought in early summer and autumn frosts disrupted the agricultural cycle, destroying crops. Lopez Lujan from INAH explained that these dual phenomena likely caused widespread famine due to agricultural failures.

These findings reveal details of the Aztecs' beliefs and demonstrate their state's vulnerability to prolonged climate crises, shedding light on how environmental pressures shaped historical events and societal practices.

We also discussed the temple of the Dilmun civilization discovered by archaeologists. This discovery occurred on Failaka Island in the Persian Gulf.