Mayan 'nesting' pyramid discovered inside existing Mexican pyramid

[Imperial Dave]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-38008546

missed this one first time around and very intriguing concept of multi building phases

[Andreas Johansson]

I recall reading about similar "Russian doll" pyramids at Maya cites back in ca 2000, so it's not "new" as in unprecedented (tho it's presumably news as regarding this particular edifice); I believe there's one at Copán frex. One suspects it was common practice among the Maya.

It makes a good deal of sense - unlike Egyptian pyramids, which were funereal monuments to particular pharaohs who only died once, these were temple platforms that remained in use, and must have needed maintenance now and then. Enlarging it occasionally would be the equivalent of rebuilding a church of mosque in a grander style.

[Imperial Dave]

makes sense from that perspective Andreas, if its a continual use building....not entirely dissimilar to Stonehenge in that respect

[Patrick Waterson]

And as the city or empire gets larger, it makes sense to use the previous temple as the foundation for the new one - saves a lot of effort and material!

[Imperial Dave]

early recycling policy Patrick 

[Andreas Johansson]

Maya cites

I wonder whether I meant two write "Maya sites" or "Maya cities".

[Patrick Waterson]

Or perhaps a novel inclusiform designation covering both contingencies - as with 'two write' when the options are more than one but not as many as three.

Interesting processing patterns.

[Jim Webster]

early recycling policy Patrick 

I suspect that rather than early recycling policy, recycling has been the norm and it's a post war generation that broke away from it. After all I remember the rag and bone men going round with their carts. They could make a living recycling rags and bones in the 1960s 

[Imperial Dave]

too true Jim. Mend and make do has disappeared somewhat with this generation alas

[gavindbm]

I am sure the same nesting applies to Mexica / Aztec Temples - definitely remember cut away diagrams showing such nesting for Tenochtitlan.

[Jim Webster]

too true Jim. Mend and make do has disappeared somewhat with this generation alas

Some of us remember the CC41 Utility mark on blankets and clothing 

[Imperial Dave]

whoosh....straight over my head 

[Jim Webster]

whoosh....straight over my head 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CC41

[Imperial Dave]

thanks Jim, I am enriched for that knowledge and thankful I didnt have to endure any utility clothing 

[Jim Webster]

thanks Jim, I am enriched for that knowledge and thankful I didnt have to endure any utility clothing 

I mainly remember it from the blankets which seem to have lasted for years