Extreme weather events and rising sea levels are increasingly putting the world’s precious heritage sites at risk, with the latest victim being a historic stone pyramid in Mexico. The 15-meter-high pyramid, located in Michoacán, collapsed on July 29, 2023, under the relentless pressure of heavy rains, marking yet another loss in the global heritage due to the chaotic effects of climate change.
The pyramid, once one of the best-preserved monuments of the Michoacán Kingdom civilization, stood at the Ihuatzio archaeological site, an area rich in history and cultural significance. Ihuatzio, first occupied over 1,100 years ago by indigenous Nahuatl-speaking groups, later became the stronghold of the P’urhépechas people, the only empire that successfully resisted the Aztecs. The site includes another pyramid, a tower, and several tombs, all of which represent the enduring legacy of a culture that thrives to this day.
However, the pyramid’s south wall succumbed to recent extreme weather, crumbling into a heap of rubble. The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in Mexico reported that at least six other sections of the pyramid, including its core and retaining walls, are now in disrepair, highlighting the extent of the damage caused by recent weather events.
July, typically the peak of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, brought heavy rainfall and thunderstorms to much of Mexico, following the worst drought in the country in 30 years. The drought had already weakened the pyramid by causing cracks that allowed rainwater to infiltrate the structure, making its collapse all but inevitable. Now, efforts are underway to repair the damage and protect this significant piece of cultural heritage.
This collapse is not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend where climate change is endangering archaeological and heritage sites worldwide. Rising temperatures, increased precipitation, and extreme weather are accelerating the deterioration of these irreplaceable cultural landmarks. For instance, recent studies have shown that ancient cave paintings in Oceania are deteriorating faster due to climate change, and cultural heritage buildings in Europe and Mexico are increasingly at risk from substantial changes in precipitation.
The loss of such sites is not just a blow to cultural history but also deeply distressing to the communities connected to them. Tariakuiri Alvarez, a member of the P’urhépecha tribe, reflected on the collapse of the Ihuatzio pyramid as a “bad omen,” reminiscent of similar events before the arrival of foreign conquerors in Mexico, which were interpreted as signs of divine displeasure.
Just days before the collapse in Mexico, Utah’s iconic ‘Double Arch’ also caved in, likely due to changing water levels and erosion, further underscoring the global threat to heritage sites posed by climate change.
These sites are priceless, offering a tangible connection to our past and a legacy for future generations. Watching them collapse due to the impacts of a climate drastically altered by human activity is a grim reminder of the urgent need to address environmental issues to preserve our shared heritage.
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