Mexico City's hidden temple stirred by September earthquake

The incredible find. Photo / National Institute of Anthropology and History, Supplied

Hundreds of people were killed when an earthquake struck this region but it also uncovered an intriguing site; an ancient Aztec temple nestled inside a pyramid, writes Kate Schneider

last September, a devastating 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit central Mexico, killing 369 people and causing significant damage to many historical sites.

The tragic event also gave way to an intriguing discovery: A once-hidden ancient temple nestled inside an Aztec pyramid.

The remains of the rain god temple, which was dedicated to the deity Tlaloc, was located inside the Teopanzolco pyramid in Cuernavaca, Morelos state.

It's believed the 6x4 metre temple dates back to around the year 1150.

Ceramic remains and an incense burner belonging to the Tlahuica culture were also found.

America's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) made the surprising find when analysing the damage the earthquake had caused to the pyramid.

It had left large gaps between the stones, causing instability.

"The pyramid suffered considerable rearrangement of the core of its structure," Barbara Koniecza from INAH said.

The greatest damage was at the top, where two temples had already been discovered — one dedicated to the Mesoamerican god of the sun and war, Huitzilopochtli, and another to Tlaloc.

The temple was hidden in the Aztec pyramid for almost a thousand years. Photo / National Institute of Anthropology and History, Supplied

"The floor of both shrines sank and bent, which also put their stability in danger," Koniecza said.

While probing the area using a radar, they found traces of the Tlaloc temple.