The Aztec Sun Stone was derived from the Mayan calendar, but was not used as an astrological or astronomical resource guide. The exact purpose of the stone is unknown; it may have served as a ceremonial altar. The massive carving is 358 centimeters in diameter, 98 centimeters thick, and weighs 24 tons. The Spanish were eager to rid themselves of anything related to Aztec culture and buried the basalt stone in the Zócalo, the main plaza of Mexico City, where it remained for several decades. In 1790, the Sun Stone was unearthed during an extensive repair project on the nearby cathedral. The stone was incorporated into the cathedral’s structure and remained there until 1885; it was removed from the cathedral and added to the extensive collection of the Museo Nacional de Antropología. The Aztec referred to the ceremonial stone as the “Cuauhxicalli Eagle Bowl.”
