January 27, 2016

A New INAH Study on Human Sacrifice at Tenochtitlan

A new study by INAH of who was sacrificed at Tenochtitlan shows that many of the sacrificed were Mexica from the area and not all war captives from further afield. The skulls and teeth of six individuals who were sacrificed at the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan were studied. They were individuals who lived under the reign of Moctezuma II. The individuals studied were probably servants for the elite, and had lived at Tenochtitlan for at least six years. The article also mentions the recent finds of Aztec skull racks at the Great Temple which proves the assertions made in primary sources about the existence of these skull racks. A surprising find among these skull racks is one that has the skulls of the sacrificed mortared together into a circle, with all of the heads facing inward into a space. This find was a total surprise.

The Daily Meal has their usual great illustrated report on this discovery;
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3417150/Did-Aztec-rulers-sacrifice-STAFF-Bones-reveals-victims-served-elite-killed-Great-Temple-Tenochtitl-n.html