Lost Treasure

The Aztecs settled in what is now known as central Mexico about 700 years ago. They built a mighty civilization that thrived for about 200 years.

“There were several million Aztecs,” says Michael Smith, a professor at Arizona State University. “They had a large, complex society.”

The Aztecs built amazing temples and palaces. They developed advanced ways of farming and created a writing system that used symbols. Aztec children went to school and studied art, history, and music.

The Aztecs settled in what is now central Mexico about 700 years ago. They built a civilization that thrived for about 200 years.

“There were several million Aztecs,” says Michael Smith. He’s a professor at Arizona State University. “They had a large, complex society.”

The Aztecs built amazing temples and palaces. They invented new ways of farming and created a writing system. Aztec children went to school. They studied art, history, and music.

In 1519, the Aztec Empire was at the peak of its power. That year, conquistadors, or soldiers from Spain, arrived. They were led by Hernán Cortés (ehr-NAN kor-TEZ).

The Aztec ruler, Montezuma II, wasn’t sure he could trust the visitors. But he invited them to stay in his palace in Tenochtitlán (teh-nawch-teet-LAHN), the biggest Aztec city. The Spaniards weren’t very good guests. For one thing, they began stealing Aztec jewelry.

“They had metalworkers melt down a lot of the jewelry and form it into gold bars,” Smith explains.

In 1519, the Aztec Empire was at the peak of its power. That year, conquistadors, or soldiers from Spain, arrived. They were led by Hernán Cortés (ehr-NAN kor-TEZ).

The Aztec ruler, Montezuma II, wasn’t sure he could trust the visitors. But he invited them to stay in his palace in Tenochtitlán (teh-nawch-teet-LAHN). That was the biggest Aztec city. The Spaniards weren’t very good guests. They began stealing Aztec jewelry.

“They melted down a lot of the jewelry and formed it into gold bars,” Smith explains.

Soon the Spanish soldiers took Montezuma II prisoner. He was killed on June 30, 1520. Historians aren’t sure exactly who killed him.

But the Aztecs blamed the Spanish. They chased the invaders from the city.

The Spanish soldiers carried bars of gold and other treasures they had stolen from the Aztecs. Some soldiers dropped the gold as they tried to escape. Other soldiers fell into the city’s waterways and drowned.

The night became known as La Noche Triste, or “The Sad Night.”

Montezuma’s death was the beginning of the end of the Aztec Empire. After fleeing Tenochtitlán that night, Cortés and his army returned about a year later. They conquered the Aztecs and set up a new colony.

Soon the Spanish soldiers took Montezuma II prisoner. He was killed on June 30, 1520. Experts aren’t sure exactly who killed him.

But the Aztecs blamed the Spanish. They chased the Spanish from the city.  

The Spanish soldiers carried bars of gold and other treasures they had stolen from the Aztecs. Some soldiers dropped the gold as they tried to escape. Other soldiers fell into the city’s waterways and drowned.

The night became known as La Noche Triste, or “The Sad Night.”

Montezuma’s death was the beginning of the end of the Aztec Empire. After fleeing Tenochtitlán that night, Cortés and his army returned about a year later. They defeated the Aztecs and set up a new colony.

The gold bar discovered in 1981 was found in the area where the soldiers escaped. Experts examined the gold with a special type of X-ray machine. This helped them match it with other gold Aztec artifacts from that time period.

Smith says the gold bar is the first solid proof of the events that took place on La Noche Triste. It’s a real connection to one of the great ancient civilizations.

The gold bar discovered in 1981 was found in the area where the soldiers escaped. Experts looked at the gold with a special type of X-ray machine. This helped them match it with other gold Aztec items from that time period.

Smith says the gold bar is the first solid proof of the events that took place on La Noche Triste. It’s a real connection to one of the great ancient civilizations.