In a groundbreaking find atop the Hill of the Star (Cerro de la Estrella), researchers have discovered a massive deposit of shattered ceramic vessels dating to the early 16th century. This 'ritual graveyard' of pottery aligns perfectly with the Xiuhmolpilli, or the New Fire Ceremony, a vital Aztec festival held every 52 years to ensure the sun would continue to rise. The deliberate destruction of household goods was a key component of the rite, symbolizing the end of one cycle and the rebirth of another.
Among the fragments, archaeologists identified rare incensarios (incense burners) and cooking pots that appear to have been systematically broken and buried. This discovery provides the first large-scale physical evidence of the domestic aspect of the New Fire ritual, confirming historical accounts that described Tenochtitlan's citizens extinguishing their hearths and casting away their belongings in anticipation of the new era.