Archaeologists from the United States and Mexico have identified the most likely origin of human sacrifice at the Huitzilopochtli pyramid, a religious building of the ancient Aztec empire. The study is published in the journal Current Anthropology and is briefly reported by the Daily Mail.
Archaeologists have studied the skulls of 38 human victims during the time of Emperor Asayakatl, of which eight belonged to adult men, aged 30 to 45 years old and have been modified. In ancient times, before ritual murder, people wore masks on their faces. By their nature, scientists tried to determine the origin of people affected by the atrocities of the Aztecs. In total, scientists presented an analysis of eight such masks.
Archaeologists have compared these masks to those on the faces of 127 other people killed in Tenochtitlan, most of whom were warriors. Scientists determined the sex, age, possible diseases and social status of these people, and also determined the ways in which the masks of the victims were made.
Photo: Emiliano Melgar / Museo del Templo Mayor
As shown by the study of scientists, most of the victims were either elite alien warriors, or representatives of the local nobility, who took the side of the enemy. Skulls and masks were discovered about 30 years ago, but only by now their origin has become clear.
The Pyramid of Huitzilopochtli (Templo Major) is a complex of temple structures in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. The height of the pyramid reached 60 meters, at its top were the temples of the god of the sun and war Huitzilopochtli, as well as the god of rain and fertility Tlaloc.
The pyramid was erected in about 1325 and two hundred years later became the cult center of the Aztec state. Most of the Templo Major complex was plundered and destroyed by the Spanish conquerors in 1521. To date, the remains of the lower part of Huitzilopochtli have been preserved, which are being excavated by archaeologists.
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