Mexico might ban Tunick nudes from pyramids

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico is unlikely to allow U.S. artist Spencer Tunick stage a nude photo shoot at its famous Teotihuacan pyramids, citing possible damage to the ancient site.

Tunick has asked Mexican archeological authorities for permission to photograph masses of naked people at Teotihuacan, Mexico's oldest major ruins, on May 6.

Tunick has caused controversy by staging nude photo shoots in cities from Dusseldorf to Caracas. Organizers say the Mexico City event might top his record of 7,000 naked people photographed in Barcelona in 2003.

Mexico is highly protective of its archeological sites and in October rescinded an offer to let Yahoo Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO - news) project into space a "time capsule" from Teotihuacan's Pyramid of the Sun, fearing damage.

A spokesperson for Tunick's photography project would not comment on the likely rejection but promised the event would go on, either at Teotihuacan or in Mexico City itself.