Reply to comment by Suárez et al., did Teotihuacán collapse due to a major earthquake? On “Teotihuacan ancient culture affected by megathrust earthquakes during the early Epiclassic period (Mexico)”

Abstract

Suárez et al. (2025) commented on our work (Teotihuacan ancient culture affected by megathrust earthquakes during the early Epiclassic Period (Mexico), Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 55, 104528), relying on a limited understanding of archaeoseismology and without presenting new data or alternative theories. Their critique is based on misinterpretation of historical photographs from Gamio’s 1920 excavations, confusion between physical weathering and brittle deformation of andesite blocks, and unsupported claims about the multiple archaeoseismic indicators identified at Teotihuacan. They offer no scientific argument addressing the Earthquake Archaeological Effects (EAEs) we described or the spatial patterns of seismic deformation proposed in our study. We have replied point by point to all of Suárez et al.’s (2025) comments from an archaeoseismological perspective as well as from archaeology, earthquake geology, numerical modelling, and geomechanics.