Pollution effects on stone benches of the Eagle Warriors Precinct at the Major Temple, Mexico City

During Major Temple archaeological site excavations in Downtown Mexico City , the precinct of one of the most important Mexica military caste, the Eagl e Warriors, was discovered. The ceremonial enclosure is composed of three r ooms surrounded by paintings on 11 stone benches placed against the walls. Nowadays, these paintings and the stones present the effects of different d eterioration processes produced by the underground water level, high humidi ty, and the presence of soil, water, and air pollutants. Ion beam analysis of samples from the benches and wall paintings was performed using PIXE and RBS techniques. Using enrichment factors of elements relative to iron conc entrations, possible contamination by sulfur and chlorine salts was found, as well as airborne zinc scavenged by rain. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.