As you learnt in this chapter, archaeologists use a variety of methods to survey, map and excavate sites of interest. One important example given is that of the central Mexican site of Teotihuacán.

At its height, Teotihuacán was the largest city in the entire world. Its true expanse is still not known, but mapping and excavation have revealed much about the central city's plan and orientation. Today the city's remains are a tourist attraction and an important symbol of Mexican identity.

In 2004, Mexico's National Institute for Archaeology and History approved a plan to construct a Wal-Mart store within one kilometre of Teotihuacán's core monumental site. It was argued the store would be an important source of employment for the local community, and that the construction posed no threat to the ruins. However, this decision was met with protests by some archaeologists, who were concerned that the ancient city may have stretched as far as the proposed building location. Many Mexicans were also concerned that the construction would tarnish the heritage site.

Read the following news articles at the BBC and CommonDreams.org, and visit Arizona State University's Teotihuacán website. Use the information you find and what you have learned in Chapter 3 to answer the following questions.

1. What are the risks involved in choosing to build within one kilometer of a site such as Teotihuacán?


2. What methods might archaeologists use to determine the geographic extent and nature of an archaeological site? Which of these methods would have worked best at Teotihuacán in advance of the Wal-Mart development?


3. During the construction of the store's parking lot a Teotihuacán-style altar was uncovered. What might this discovery indicate?


4. Do you think the Mexican government made the right decision in allowing the store's construction?