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Christina Warinner

The foundations of the church associated with a medieval women’s religious community in Germany, where the remains of the artist were excavated by archaeologists.

During the European Middle Ages, Afghanistan was the only known source of lapis lazuli. The rare stone contains different minerals that contribute to its unique appearance, including lazurite (blue), phlogopite (white), and pyrite (gold).

A particle of precious blue lapis lazuli is trapped in the fossilised dental plaque of a medieval woman.

Architectural investigations of the Grand Plaza resulted in the unexpected discovery of a large epidemic cemetery associated with the 1545-1550 cocoliztli epidemic. The cemetery was found to contain numerous mass burials, attesting to the catastrophic nature of the epidemic.

A mass burial in the Teposcolula-Yucundaa Grand Plaza, shown prior to excavation.