New analysis reveals that the person buried in the Palace of Cortés was an Aztec woman, not a Spanish monk

October 23, 2024

Recent research at the Palacio de Cortés in Cuernavaca, Mexico, has dispelled a long-standing historical misconception about the identity of a skeleton displayed at the site. Initially believed to be the remains of a Spanish monk, the bones were instead identified as belonging to a middle-aged indigenous woman.

New analysis reveals Aztec woman, not Spanish monk, in burial at Cortés Palace - Latest News - NEWS

The burial of an Aztec woman that was found under the Palace of Cortés in Mexico. Credit: INAH

The burial, initially excavated in 1971, was thought to be that of Juan Leyva, a Spanish monk who served the Marchioness Juana de Zúñiga y Arellano, wife of Hernán Cortés. The identification was based on a 16th-century Franciscan codex that described Leyva’s burial next to the gate of the old house. However, discrepancies in skeletal features, such as the fetal-like burial position and cranial modification, raised doubts about this identification.

Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) recently announced the results of a new analysis conducted by anthropologists Pablo Neptalí Monterroso Rivas and Isabel Bertha Garza Gómez. Their examination challenged long-held belief and determined that the skeleton was, in fact, that of a Tlahuica woman, a member of the Aztec tribe.

New analysis reveals Aztec woman, not Spanish monk, in burial at Cortés Palace - Latest News - NEWS

Skeletal analysis revealed that the individual was a woman, aged between 30 and 40 years at the time of her death. The presence of cranial flattening, a fetal-like burial position, and other distinctive features suggested an indigenous origin. Researchers proposed that the woman was buried ritually, possibly as part of a series of events, such as sacrifices, around the time of the Spanish invasion between 1500 and 1521.

New analysis reveals Aztec woman, not Spanish monk, in burial at Cortés Palace - Latest News - NEWS

A more recent image of the skeleton. Credit: INAH

Jorge Angulo, an archaeologist at INAH, commented on the significance of the find, stating that “it is more closely related to a pre-Hispanic burial, which could belong to the contact period or earlier.” This challenges the previous belief that the burial belonged to a Spanish monk and highlights the importance of re-evaluating historical assumptions.

New analysis reveals Aztec woman, not Spanish monk, in burial at Cortés Palace - Latest News - NEWS

The study also uncovered additional bones from other individuals, including an infant and a child, raising suggestions of a possible family connection. To further clarify the relationships, the researchers recommended conducting a DNA study. Despite the challenges posed by the skeleton’s damaged state after years of exposure and moisture issues following the 2017 earthquake, the team expressed hope that further preservation efforts and studies would be possible.

The burial of the Tlahuica woman has special significance because of its association with the Palace of Cortés, the palace built by the Spanish in the 1520s on the ruins of the Aztec city of Cuauhnáhuac. The reopened archaeological window, now updated with a plaque declaring the burial to be that of a “Tlahuica Woman,” serves as a poignant reminder of the complex history inherent to the site.

New analysis reveals Aztec woman, not Spanish monk, in burial at Cortés Palace - Latest News - NEWS Left) The Palace of Cortés in Mexico. Right) The archaeological window, visible in this image, was reopened with a new certificate, which states that the burial belonged to a Tlahuica woman. Credit: INAH

As physical anthropologists Monterroso Rivas and Garza Gómez emphasized in their report, “It is worth reiterating the importance of the burial and its emblematic association with the palace.”

Review: Top 10 Cloud Services in the USA Cloud computing has transformed how businesses operate, offering scalable, secure, and cost-effective solutions for storage, computing, and application management. The U.S. leads the global cloud market, with providers delivering innovative services tailored to startups, enterprises, and everything in between. Below is a comprehensive review of the top 10 cloud service providers in the USA for 2025, based on market share, service offerings, and customer feedback. Amazon Web Services (AWS)AWS dominates with a 31% global market share, generating $24.2 billion in Q4 2023 revenue. It offers over 200 services, including compute (EC2), storage (S3), AI (SageMaker), and analytics. AWS’s 33 regions and 105 availability zones ensure low latency and high reliability. Its pay-as-you-go pricing starts at ~$0.0832/hour for a t3.large instance (2 vCPUs, 8GB RAM). Ideal for businesses needing scalability and cutting-edge AI tools. Microsoft AzureAzure holds a 24% market share and is the fastest-growing major provider, with 30% revenue growth in 2023. It offers 200+ services, including IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, with strengths in AI, IoT, and enterprise integration. Azure’s pricing for a 2 vCPU, 8GB RAM instance (D2s v3) starts at ~$0.096/hour. Its hybrid cloud solutions and Microsoft ecosystem make it a top choice for enterprises. Google Cloud Platform (GCP)GCP, with an 11.5% market share, excels in AI, machine learning (TensorFlow, BigQuery), and data analytics. It offers 150+ services across 24 regions and 73 zones. Pricing for an e2-standard-2 instance (2 vCPUs, 8GB RAM) starts at ~$0.070/hour, with up to 57% discounts for committed use. GCP is favored by data-driven businesses and developers. IBM CloudIBM Cloud provides IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS with a focus on enterprise-grade security, AI (Watson), and hybrid/multi-cloud deployments. It serves industries like healthcare and finance, offering 170+ services. Pricing varies, but its pay-as-you-go model is competitive. IBM’s strong partner ecosystem and AIOps solutions enhance business transformation. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)Oracle Cloud is gaining traction with its high-performance computing and database services. It offers cost-effective pricing, with a free tier and discounts for committed use. OCI’s focus on enterprise applications, like ERP and CRM, makes it ideal for large organizations. Its global network includes 40+ regions. DigitalOceanDigitalOcean targets startups and developers with simple, affordable cloud hosting. Plans start at $2.50/month for 0.5GB RAM, 10GB storage, and 1 vCPU. Its managed databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and monitoring tools ensure reliability. DigitalOcean’s free credits and Hatch program support early-stage businesses. VMware CloudVMware, now under Broadcom, specializes in multi-cloud and hybrid cloud solutions. It supports AWS, Azure, and GCP, offering consistent management across environments. VMware’s virtualization expertise and low-cost migration tools make it a top pick for enterprises modernizing data centers. SalesforceSalesforce focuses on cloud-based CRM and customer service solutions. Its Service Cloud automates workflows and integrates with AI for personalized customer experiences. With 1.5 million users, it’s a leader for businesses prioritizing customer engagement. Pricing is subscription-based, tailored to business size. CloudflareCloudflare is a CDN and security-focused provider, offering DDoS protection, DNS, and content delivery. Its user-friendly interface and integrations with WordPress and Shopify appeal to businesses needing fast, secure web performance. Pricing includes a free tier and pay-as-you-go plans. Linode (Akamai) Linode, acquired by Akamai, offers developer-friendly cloud hosting with transparent pricing and a free tier. It integrates with Akamai’s CDN for enhanced performance. Plans start at $5/month for 1GB RAM, 25GB storage, and 1 vCPU. Linode is ideal for SMBs and tech-savvy users. Choosing the Right Provider Selecting a cloud provider depends on your needs: AWS, Azure, and GCP dominate for scalability and enterprise solutions; DigitalOcean and Linode cater to startups; Salesforce excels in CRM; and Cloudflare prioritizes web performance. Compare pricing, scalability, and security features. Check reviews on platforms like Gartner or Forbes Cloud 100 for insights. As cloud spending grows (projected at $591.8 billion in 2023), ensure your choice aligns with long-term goals.