Teotihuacán - Street of the Dead Calle de los Muertos
Beyond the Unidad Cultural is the 4km/2.5mi long and 45 m (148 ft) wide main street "Miccaotli", erroneously called the "Street of the Dead" (Calle de los Muertos), which runs in a north-south direction from the moon pyramid. On crossing the street an impressive rectangular site is reached, surrounded by four platforms, known as the citadel (ciudadela). It is assumed that this was a place of worship and a dwelling-place for the priests and rulers.
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The ciudadela is a fine example of what is for Teotihuacán a style which recurs again and again, the talud-tablero style (sloping wall/sheer wall), with in this case the sheer part with its framed panels predominating. Frames and panels used to be covered with a thick layer of stucco, which was itself covered with colourful frescos. The talud-tablero style of building was borrowed in other pre-Columbian places (Monte Albán, Xochicalco, Kaminaljuyú, Tula, etc.), usually in a slightly altered form.
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Museum
South of the Sun Pyramid (Entrance 5) lies an excellent museum which was opened in 1995. It provides a general picture of the site and its former inhabitants, and contains recently uncovered finds as well as a communal grave containing nine male and four female sacrificial victims who were found near the Quetzalcoátl temple. Particularly impressive is the glass floor in the main room with a large model of Teotihuacán.
Superimposed Buildings
Going on down the "Street of the Dead" in the direction of the moon pyramid, after some 400 m (1320 ft) we come to the remains of the Superimposed Buildings (Edificios Superpuestos) on our left. These once included an antechamber with six columns, a large courtyard with a staircase, a small temple, arcades and various other rooms. On some of the walls it is still possible to see the remains of frescos.
Viking Group
A little further to the north past the Superimposed Buildings we come to the Viking Group (Grupo Viking), which is named after an American foundation which has been active here. On this site, which includes two inner courtyards, two slabs of mica, each 6 cm (2in.) thick, were found in one of the courtyards. The purpose of these pieces of mica has given rise to much speculation.
