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Mesoamerican pyramid

vr.tr.mesoamerican-pyramid · thing-q2270185

Let an agent explain Mesoamerican pyramids and their functions, relay major examples, construction and astronomy from archaeological sources with attribution, describe conservation and tourism, and distinguish Mesoamerican pyramids from Egyptian and other pyramids.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems PHY.BLT
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Understand What Mesoamerican pyramids are.

Definition

Form and function.

Definition

Definition.

  1. What are Mesoamerican pyramids, and how did they serve ritual, political and astronomical purposes, as archaeologists describe? definition
  2. Is the question about Mesoamerican pyramids, Egyptian pyramids or other American monuments? boundary

Construction

Construction.

Construction

Construction.

  1. How were the pyramids built, enlarged in phases and faced with stone and stucco? definition
  2. Which entry fits the specific pyramid? action
Examples Major pyramids.

Sites

Sites.

Sites

Sites.

  1. What distinguishes the Pyramid of the Sun, El Castillo, Cholula, the Templo Mayor and Tikal temples? provenance
  2. Which references are standard? provenance

Cultures

By culture.

Cultures

Cultures.

  1. How did Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacan, Zapotec, Toltec and Aztec pyramids differ? provenance
  2. Which entry fits the specific culture? action
Study Research.

Astronomy

Astronomy and alignment.

Astronomy

Astronomy.

  1. What do studies say about alignments such as the equinox serpent at Chichen Itza, with claims attributed? provenance
  2. Is the presentation attributed and cautious? boundary

Discoveries

Discoveries.

Discoveries

Discoveries.

  1. What have tunnels, lidar and excavations revealed inside and around pyramids? provenance
  2. Which sources are cited? provenance
Context Conservation and culture.

Conservation

Conservation and tourism.

Conservation

Conservation.

  1. How are the pyramids conserved, and how is tourism managed? provenance
  2. Which entry fits archaeological site management? action

Culture

Culture.

Culture

Culture.

  1. How do the pyramids figure in national identity and popular culture? provenance
  2. Which entry fits Mesoamerican heritage? action

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Physical world and living systems
Entry kind
thing
Plane
PHY
Domain
PHY.BLT

What it is Filled

A stepped pyramid built by the civilisations of Mesoamerica, including the Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacan, Zapotec, Toltec and Aztec cultures, typically a platform of earth and rubble faced with stone, rising in terraces to a temple at the summit reached by steep stairways, and often enlarged by successive construction phases, as at the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan, El Castillo at Chichen Itza, the Great Pyramid of Cholula, the largest by volume, and the Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan; the pyramids served ritual, astronomical and political functions.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent explain Mesoamerican pyramids and their functions, relay major examples, construction and astronomy from archaeological sources with attribution, describe conservation and tourism, and distinguish Mesoamerican pyramids from Egyptian and other pyramids.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • Stepped platform form
  • Summit temple
  • Successive enlargement
  • Astronomical alignment

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Help loot, remove or trade artefacts or stones from a pyramid or its surroundings.
  • Encourage climbing or entering structures where the site authority forbids it.
  • Present speculative or fringe theories about the builders as established fact.
  • Treat sites that are sacred to living Indigenous communities as mere backdrops.

Only with a human decision

  • Approving excavation, restoration or drone survey of a protected site.

May

  • Describe Mesoamerican pyramids, their cultures and periods from archaeological sources.
  • Report damage, erosion or looting at a site to the heritage authority.

Moral aspects Filled

  • The pyramids are heritage of Indigenous peoples whose descendants live today.
  • Tourism brings income but also wear and damage to fragile structures.

Who is affected

  • Indigenous descendant communities
  • Visitors and guides
  • Archaeologists

Owners Filled

Steward

The national heritage authority of the country where the site lies; some are World Heritage sites.

Master systems

  • National archaeological site registers
  • World Heritage List

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • Q109607777 - registry parent class

related

  • pyramids in the Americas - in registry terms
  • Mesoamerican civilizations - from the Olmec to the Aztec
  • temple - platform for ritual
  • Egyptian pyramid - a tomb form

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.mesoamerican-pyramid
  • Wikidata: Q2270185 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2270185)

Direct properties required Filled

  • Great Pyramid of Cholula volume: about 4.45 million m^3 - largest by volume
  • Pyramid of the Sun height: about 65 m
  • period: about 1000 BCE to 1521 CE range

Recognition required Filled

  • Stepped temple pyramid of Mesoamerica
  • Pyramid of the Sun, El Castillo, Great Pyramid of Cholula, Templo Mayor, Tikal temples
  • Egyptian pyramids are smooth-sided tombs; Andean huacas are different traditions
  • A stepped platform pyramid with a central stairway and summit temple.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • explain form and function
  • relay examples and construction
  • describe conservation
  • distinguish from other pyramids

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • Erosion and tourism damage
  • Looting
  • Presenting contested interpretations as settled
  • Confusing with Egyptian pyramids

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • Mexican and Central American heritage laws
  • UNESCO World Heritage listings such as Teotihuacan, Chichen Itza and Tikal
  • Archaeological conservation standards

Context of use required Filled

  • Not applicable; a category of monuments.
  • Olmec and Preclassic pyramids
  • Teotihuacan pyramids of the Sun and Moon
  • Maya pyramids such as Tikal, Palenque and Chichen Itza
  • Zapotec and Mixtec pyramids at Monte Alban and Mitla
  • Toltec pyramids at Tula
  • Aztec pyramids such as the Templo Mayor
  • the Great Pyramid of Cholula

Sources Filled

  1. Wikidata item Q2270185: Mesoamerican pyramid - identity and sense of the item
  2. Wikipedia: Mesoamerican pyramids - general description of the item

Open questions

  • Should the major pyramids be separate primary entries?
  • How should archaeological sources be linked?
  • How should astronomical alignment research be recorded?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q2270185/spec.json