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 To build monumental stone temples on the marshy soils of Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco, the Aztecs devised ingenious foundation systems that minimized sinking. In addition, they capitalized on the properties of volcanic stone quarried from the hills surrounding Lake Texcoco.
Building Materials
The Aztecs quarried several types of volcanic stone as construction materials: basalt for facades and foundations, tezontle, a porous, lightweight stone, for infill, and andesite for paving and cornerstones.
Laborers cut the stone without the aid of metal tools—instead, they used stone tools, ropes, and a mixture of sand and water as abrasives.
 Construction Methods
In Tenochtitlan, the Aztecs constructed their temples on top of "floating slab" foundations made of a concrete-like mixture of gravel, sand, and lime. Pilings made from tree trunks anchored the foundation slabs into the marshy soil below.
The pyramidal form of Aztec temples—with their large base and gradually tapering mass—allowed their weight to be spread over a greater area, providing increased stability.
Transportation of Materials
The Aztecs did not have draft animals, such as horses, mules, or oxen, to help them transport stone. Instead, human laborers carried stone from the quarries to canoes, which then transported the stone across the lake to the temple construction sites.
In addition, the Aztecs often brought to Tenochtitlan many architectural ornaments and other artifacts excavated from the ruins of ancient sites such as Tula and Teotihuacan. The Aztecs believed that these relics were made by gods, giants, or heroic societies. Priests offered these sacred objects to their gods, and in the process, linked themselves to the power and majesty of the ancient societies.
Continue through High Priests: Aztec Religion. >>
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