Yahoo had gotten a permit to use a laser beam atop the Pyramid of the Sun, shown here, to shoot data into space in hopes of reaching extraterrestrials. But this week, Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History said the project is a no-go.
The Pyramid of the Sun (background) and the Pyramid of the Moon are among the main attractions of the Teotihuacan archaeological site.\r\n
\r\nThe Pyramid of the Sun was constructed between 1 A.D. and 150 A.D. on top of a natural cave, according to the Mexican government. It is 211 feet high and 709 feet wide, making it one of Mesoamerica’s largest pyramids.
Teotihuacan, about 30 miles from Mexico City, was a city and a major religious site in the first half of the first millennium. The religion’s rites included human and animal sacrifice.
The Avenue of the Dead is the main street that cuts through the center of the archaeological site.
Stonework at the site includes images of Quetzalcoatl, the feathered-serpent deity of ancient Mesoamerican culture.
Teotihuacan’s stonework is intricate, indicating the civilization’s high degree of sophistication. However, the civilization collapsed sometime during the 7th or 8th century. The exact reason is unknown.
Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Previously, Bill was an IT manager in the social research and energy industries. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Louisville, where he has also lectured on computer crime and crime prevention.
