as the empire grew, kings enlarged the great temple at tenochtitlan. and when they did, rededication ceremonies signaled a time for tribute. archaeologists discovered caches of tribute buried inside successive versions of the temple. one included these stone soldiers found leaning against the stairs. offerings came from all over the aztec empire -- gold and silver jewelry, jade masks, pottery and sculpture. interpreter: the majority of the objects found in the offerings were from areas that were controlled by the aztecs. one of the offerings that we found in front of the templo mayor consisted of skulls of sacrificial victims that had small knives placed in the nose and in the mouth. keach: the aztecs were not above requiring sacrificial victims as tribute. sometimes they would even specify that the victims must be the friendly neighbors of the conquered state. they knew this would drive a wedge between their neighbors and discourage them from ganging up on the aztecs. a stone skull rack was discovered in the plaza of the templo mayor. archaeologists t